Education Tanzania, United Republic of Project #14093

Send 35 Girls in Tanzania to Secondary School

by Girls Education International

Send 35 Girls in Tanzania to Secondary School

Project Report | Dec 8, 2016
Girls Ed December Study Camp in Tanzania

By Rai Farrelly | Executive Director, Girls Education International

Student leading discussion seminar

Dear Girls Ed Supporters,

We hope your holiday season is off to a lovely start and that you are having some peaceful, enjoyable moments with family and friends. It can sometimes feel like the world is swelling with angst and disappointment, but in truth - there is beauty and goodness all around us. For me, getting reports about our students in Tanzania is one great source of joy. Another is being able to share that with you!

Right now, our project manager, Lucas alongside our friend and fellow educator, Madaga are leading our students through a rigorous and fruitful study camp. The idea is our response to gaps we have identified in our students' education experience. The reasons for these gaps include limited resources and high demands on teachers. Many of our students have struggled to earn good grades because they don't get the individualized attention they need to deepen their understanding of the concepts they are exploring in school.

Lucas and Madaga designed a month-long study camp (see photo of them planning), which they are implementing right now! The students come together in one village location and remain on site for the entire camp. We secured lodging for all the girls with local families and we hired cooks to provide them breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the month of study (see photo of women under the cooking structure). The schedule they are following is quite demanding.

They wake at 6am for personal care, a morning jog and assembly (i.e., announcements, motivational speeches).
At 7am they have breakfast, and at 7:30am they begin classes.
At 10:30am they have a quick break for tea.
Classes resume until 3pm at which time they have lunch.
After lunch, they have a siesta to recharge their bodies and minds.
Afternoon consists of discussion seminars. (See photo of a student leading a discussion section)
After dinner, they continue with their studies in preparation for the following day.

When Madaga shared the "timetable" with me, I was surprised by how demanding it was. He assured me that the students are actually enjoying it. "It is of great benefit to them." The rigor of the schedule with time built in for self-care and reflection is providing a structure and intensity to their studies that they don't get during the school year.

The parents (photographed in front of one of the schools) came together for a community meeting prior to the study camp. They had a chance to ask questions before signing an approval letter and sending their children off to 'camp'. Lucas sent me a message via Whats App the other night to convey the parents' words of gratitude. He wrote, "They are not happy--but very very happy! They want to meet with you one day to say thank you in person because they say this is a good gift for them and their children."

This study camp is exactly the boost that students attending village schools need. In urban areas, the quality of teaching tends to be higher because teachers are more qualified and speak English (medium of instruction) with greater fluency. Students in cities also tend to get additional support at after school programs or with tutors.

Lucas and Madaga tested all students at the start of the study camp and will conduct a final assessment to measure gains through this program. We believe that we will see the impact of this intensive academic camp when our students transition into the next school year in mid-January. If successful, we hope to offer another camp in June when the students are on break between terms 1 and 2.

Of course, there are expenses for running a camp of this scale. We provide food, pay the cooks and teachers, and buy materials that teachers and students need for teaching and learning.

You can share this report and news of our work with friends using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below. Make sure to follow us on Facebook!

You can also make a donation by clicking on the Give Now button so that we can offer our girls all the support they need to reach their goals - texts, tutoring, and hopefully another study camp!

And since it's the holidays, consider honoring a friend by making a donation in their name. When you do so, GlobalGiving will give you the option of sending them a card.

Asante sana.

With gratitude,

Rai Farrelly
Executive Director
Girls Education International

Students in class at study camp

Lucas and Madaga planning for study camp

Parent meeting prior to study camp

The cook tent at lunch time

Some time to relax and have tea

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Sep 12, 2016
Girls Ed Tanzania_September Update

By Rai Farrelly | Executive Director, Girls Education International

Mayane - Motivated to Learn

Greetings Girls Education Supporters,

We'd like to share another interview with one of our Amahoro Secondary School students, Mayane. Mayane is a dedicated student. She even spends her breaks studying and reviewing subjects with her friends.

The motivation to learn lives deep within the hearts of children. The persistance of this motivation in the face of despair is remarkable! Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee of Liberia speaks about the power of education to change the lives of girls in this TED Talk entitled Unlock the intelligence, passion, greatness of girls.

As Gbowee says in this talk, when you educate young girls, "you unlock intelligence, you unlock passion, you unlock commitement, you unlock focus, you unlock great leaders." We know that's true. That's why we keep doing what we do. And you know it's true. That's why you're one of our supporters! Thank you for all you've done to help fulfill the wishes of our girls - their wishes for education, their wishes for a better life, their wishes to be empowered.

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Here's what Mayane had to say when we spent some time with her earlier this year:

What is your daily routine like?

On Monday, at 6:30 in the morning, I am prepare to go school. At 7:00 in morning, I am starting to go school, and when I arrive at school, I clean the area together with other students. The teacher stating to teach. We have a break at 10:40am, but I and two other friends remain in the class to review the subject. At 2:30 in the afternoon, we go back home.

The break is starting 10:40 up to 11:00, but for me every break I am still study. If there is something I don’t understand, I ask my friend. If it is very difficult, I ask the teacher.

Do you like school?

Yes, I like school. I believe in education - it removes ignorance. When I study well, I will get a job and money. I can help my parents and others.

Do you think studying as a girl is different from studying as a boy? Why?

Studying as a girl and as a boy is not different because both study well. The problem for a girl - when the teacher is teaching, she understands well, but in a short time - they forgot. But there are some girls doing well.

What advice would you give to a girl who wants to quit school?

I tell them to study hard because this is a light of life.

What would you like to do after secondary school?

For me, after finish secondary school I want to go to the Donors.

*Note: I think she'd like to visit you! :)

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"Let's journey together."

Asante sana!

Rai Farrelly
Executive Director, Girls Ed

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Jun 13, 2016
June Update from Girls Ed Tanzania

By Rai Farrelly | Executive Director, Girls Education International

Bukuru

Dear Girls Education Supporters,

We hope your summer is off to a wonderful start! Our students in Tanzania are racing toward their summer break, which is during the month of July. Then, they'll return for the rest of this academic school year.

Our Form 1 students will take exams in October to gauge whether or not they are ready to move on to Form 2, so they'll be studying over much of their summer break. We're wishing them well. Our first cohort excelled in their exams - all passing, some with distinction. The Form 2 students get a little break from examinations this year, but will be taking mock exams next year to prepare for the big Form 4 exit exams.

We'd love to let you know that we have a little fundraising push we'd love your help with. On Wedensday, June 15th (this week!) beginning at 9am EDT (Washington, DC time), GlobalGiving.org will be hosting their annual GG Rewards Bonus Day with $110,000 availalbe in matching funds and $2,000 available in bonus prizes. Funds always go so fast during these campaigns, so if you'd like to contribute - have your alarm set and your mouse ready to click 'Give Now' right at 9am! Thank you so much for your continued support!

With that, we'd like to share an interview with one of our current students, Bukuru.

What is your daily routine like?

First when I attend at school during in the morning, I clean the area surrounding my school. So after finish, at 8:00 am, we start class. So as to continual with other activities such as to clean they area at home then I help my mother at the farm, then I return home and wash for dinner. After dinner, I start to study different books and other exercise given by the teacher.

Do you like school?

Yes. School is very important because it prepares me for my life.

Do you think studying as a girl is different from studying as a boy? Why?

Yes, because when a girl comes home from school, she has too much work compared with boys. There is too much housework for us.

What advice would you give to a girl who wants to quit school?

I advise that, education is the key or foundation of my life. If there is no education, there is no life. Some say that their environment forces them to study, even if parents don't. Some parents don’t know the importance of education.

What would you like to do after secondary school?

I want to continue with my studies and become a lawyer!

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Asante Sana for all your continued support! Our students, including Bukuru, are working hard to make sure they get a return on your investment! Gratitude all around.

Rai Farrelly

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