Life-Changing Mentorship for Tanzanian Girls

In 2023, 1,034 Tanzanian girls were able to successfully develop and implement 47 2-Day Challenge (2DC) projects in 21 schools or local communities. These 2DC projects are a special undertaking that involve the coordination and implementation of small, impactful community projects designed by Year 2 Scholars enrolled in the Kisa Project, a two-year leadership course that prepares girls in their last two years of secondary school to attend university and create positive social change in their communities. This program is implemented by Daring Girls’ sister organization, GLAMI, and girls who participate in Kisa Project are enrolled in Forms 5 and 6 of their Advanced Level studies, aged between 17 and 20 years. 

Every year, Year 2 Kisa Scholars work to identify and solve a community challenge as their capstone 2DC project. Together, they realize the power they have to create positive change in their own communities, while also helping local communities see and understand the worth of educated, empowered young women.

The 2DC involves many small-scale, community-based initiatives that promote self-reliance, foster development through training and small infrastructure improvements, and typically have an immediate and dramatic effect on local communities. Typical projects include water safety and quality improvements, health and hygiene improvements, and community education initiatives that improve knowledge in many areas, including agricultural practices, entrepreneurial approaches, and more. 2DC projects help girls develop planning, leadership, and project management skills – all qualities needed in the next generation of leaders in order to transform their community and environmental health.

These are the 2DC projects completed by the Kisa Class of 2023:

Project #1: Ashira Girls Secondary School – Group 1

Project Title & Location: Rehabilitation of Dining Benches at Ashira Secondary School

The Problem: Students in the school had poor hygiene when it came to eating habits. Students polluted the school environment by throwing unwanted substances all over the grass and school grounds.

The Solution: Kisa Scholars worked together to create 20 dining benches, each sitting 4-5 students. 100 students benefited from these tables, eating lunch on surfaces that they then cleaned once they were finished eating, to prepare the tables for the next meal.

Project #2: Ashira Girls Secondary School – Group 2

Project Title & Location: Education on Personal Hygiene and Personal Leadership at Ashira Primary School

The Problem: Most primary students lack awareness of how to keep their bodies clean. They also did not understand the importance of taking leadership in their own lives.

The Solution: Kisa Scholars developed pamphlets and taught lessons to younger students about the importance of personal hygiene and cleanliness. Younger students learned how to take care of their bodily cleanliness, and also received lessons in how to become young leaders who cared for the well-being of others.

Project #3: Kibosho Girls Secondary School – Group 1

Project Title & Location: Market for Appropriate Technology, in the town of Moshi at the Muungano Makonde Carvings at Majengo Sokoni Ward

The Problem: In Moshi, there are many producers who have no specific market for selling their products. They do not know how to create nice packaging for their products that prevents them from selling through online platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter and other platforms, and thus rely solely on foot traffic that can result in only a few customers each day or each month.  

The Solution: Students held a session with Muungano Makonde carving artists by teaching them how to use technology in order to boost their sales. Kisa Scholars explained the benefits of using technology and social media and helped the artists create social media pages to promote their items. They also helped artists create better packaging for their carvings.

Project #4: Kifaru Secondary School – Group 2

Project Title & Location: Repairing a Kitchen & Desks at Kifaru Primary School

The Problem: Most of the desks at this primary school were broken, which meant 3-4 students had to sit at a single small desk, which was not conducive to learning. Also at this school, there was no kitchen area and food was cooked outside, which led to diharrea and other health issues for students.

The Solution: Kisa Scholars built a kitchen space for food to be cooked, and built desks for students.

Project #5: Kifaru Secondary School – Group 1

Project Title & Location: Construction of an Incinerator at Kimaseki Secondary School in Arusha, TZ

The Problem: A lack of incinerators at the school was leading to environmental pollution and illness amongst students, who were experiencing urinary tract infections and fungus as a result.

The Solution: Kisa Scholars worked together to construct an incinerator at the school, to ensure proper disposal of items that were causing illness.

Project #6: Langasani Secondary School – Group 1

Project Title & Location: Facility Cleaning & Provision of Bed Sheets and Blankets at Majengo Leprosy Station

The Problem: Girls saw that the environment at Majengo Leprosy Station was not conducive to elders when it came to toilet cleanliness and lack of clean and comfortable bedding. Rags were sometimes used instead of blankets, resulting in elders suffering at night during the cold season.

The Solution: Kisa Scholars worked to procure enough blankets and bedsheets for all elders, as well as toilet liquid soap, a mopper, and broom to help staff keep bathroom and living spaces clean and hygienic.

Project #7: Langasani Secondary School – Group 2

Project Title & Location: Sewing & Provision of School Shirts to Girls at Msito wa Tembo Primary School

The Problem: Many girls at the Msito wa Tembo Primary School could not afford to purchase school uniforms, especially shirts and skirts that are required for attendance. Lack of uniforms was negatively impacting girls’ performance and attendance at school.

The Solution: Kisa Scholars worked together to sew school skirts for girls in need. Girls were able to attend school because of the skirts, resulting in better attendance and performance. Girls with new skirts also reported being more confident at school.

Project #8: Machame Girls – Group 1

Project Title & Location: Purchasing of Food Dishes at Machame Girls High School

The Problem: At the high school, there was a shortage of dishes for serving food to students. Damaged and missing dishes led to wasted time for students who had to clean plates before using them. Dirty dishes also led to food contamination for students who were not eating from clean surfaces.

The Solution: Girls worked together to raise funds to purchase new dishes for the school. Their work has resulted in more time for school activities because students no longer need to reuse dirty dishes, and has resulted in less spread of food-borne illness.

Project #9: Machame Girls – Group 2

Project Title & Location: Rehabilitation of the Laundry Tap and Surrounding Floor

The Problem: The old laundry tap was broken which increased the overflow of water, which resulted in excess stagnation of contaminated water that caused high chance of diseases such as malaria and typhoid.

The Solution: The tap was repaired and the floor was renovated, hence there is no more contaminated water and no longer an eruption of diseases. Students and school administrators are healthier and happier now that they no longer have to worry about water waste and wastewater contamination.

Project #10: Magadini Secondary School – Group 1

Project Title & Location: Storage Pads Box for Emergencies at Magadini Primary School

The Problem: In Madadini Primary School, the absence of sanitary pads at school resulted in girls missing school during their menstrual period. Parents of the girls could not afford to buy sanitary pads for their children, either. Cultural and religious taboos as well as limited social norms makes it challenging to teach and talk about menstrual health in society. When girls lack access to appropriate menstrual products, they are more likely to stay home from school, leading to poor learning performance, poor grades, and to girls dropping out of school.

The Solution: Kisa Scholars provided younger girls with education about menstrual health and how to stay clean when they are on their periods, since this education is not provided at home. They also established a project of storage boxes at the school for emergency purposes, seeking community donations of funds to purchase menstrual supplies as well as donations of sanitary pads. Now girls with acute need can access emergency support.

View the remainder of these projects on our website.

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