Girls' Empowerment Program
Overview
In Tanzania, young women who become pregnant while at school are often unable to continue their studies. Seeing a need for these young mothers to have an opportunity to continue their education and acquire employable skills, Tanzanian-founded NGO TEKUA started a program to enable young mothers to complete a two-year secondary school program and support them as they take their national exams. Worldview collaborates with TEKUA to support these young women through their education. Worldview provides each Girls Empowerment student with full sponsorship, including school fees for the two years, transportation, breakfast and lunch during school hours, school fees for vocational training programs, medical care, and milk for their children.
Upon passing these students receive secondary school certificates and can continue further studies so that they can go on to gain professional skills and later employment. In addition to their regular studies the girls learn how to advocate for the right of education for women, how to take care of their children and families and how to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.
Prospective students are interviewed and selected by program director Pendo Mlingi. The program is funded by a grant from the Chauncey and Marion Deering McCormick Foundation. Thank you Nancy McCormick for your continued support of this important program.
History
The Girls Empowerment program started in 2006 as an initiative of the Tanzanian-founded TEKUA NGO, in order to provide women who had become pregnant while in school an opportunity to finish their schooling so that they could have better employment prospects later on. However, there was a lack of sufficient financial support to keep the program running and support the need.
In 2009, Worldview board members were introduced to TEKUA’s programs, and the Girls’ Empowerment Program in particular, and decided to support the initiative. This program funds the students’ studies, and also provides milk to support their children while they study.
From 2009-2017, 20 students have been helped through Worldview’s support in the two year program, which provides academic training to enable students to take their national exams. When the women finish the program and successfully complete their exam, they can go on to trade school.
Former Girls Empowerment Program beneficiaries have gone on to study hotel management or gone to teachers’ college, and many now have good jobs with decent salaries so that they can support themselves and their families.
Jacklyne Kathbet
Jacklyne Kathbet is 18 years old, from the village of Tengeru. While she was in Form 3 (the equivalent of grade 9) she became unexpectedly pregnant. Her parents refused to pay for her school fees if she wanted to return. Trying to figure out a way to return to her studies, Jacklyne sent her son to live with her sister. She heard TEKUA had a program for women that would help them complete their studies and support their child with milk. Jacklyne came to TEKUA, was evaluated and accepted into the program. Once she completes the program, Jacklyne hopes to enter into the military.
Happiness Leba
Happiness Leba is 27 years old, from the village of Nkoaranga. She heard from a friend that TEKUA provided studies to women who had been forced to leave school due to pregnancy. She asked her friend to bring her to TEKUA. Happiness feels that her studies will open up doors for a better job. She hopes her daughter is able to continue with her studies also. Happiness is not sure what career she wants to pursue, but she particularly enjoys learning computers.
Elizabeth Mboya
Elizabeth Mboya is 19 years old, and lives in the village of Maji ya Chai. Her son is 10 months old. When Elizabeth got pregnant she was kicked out of school, and went to live at her aunt’s house. A friend who was a former TEKUA student told Elizabeth about the possibilities with the Girls Empowerment program, in which she could study English, computers, or finish her secondary school studies. Elizabeth particularly enjoys studying history, English and math. She would like to become a secondary school teacher after she finishes her studies.
Ruth Mshiu
Ruth Mshiu is 22 years old and has a 3 year old daughter. She lives with her sister in the village of Mianzini. Ruth told her sister that she hoped to continue her studies, and her sister—who had connections in the area—said she would try to find out what kinds of opportunities were available. Her sister found out that there was a place for women who want to study after pregnancy, and passed on the information to Ruth about TEKUA’s Girls’ Empowerment Program. Ruth came herself to TEKUA, met with the teacher and explained her situation. The teacher evaluated Ruth and accepted her into the program. She started in the program in January of 2017, and feels really happy because she gets support for her studies. She wants to be a secondary school teacher in the future, and the Girls Empowerment Program provides her with the start she needs.
Augustina Peter
Augustina Peter is 18 years old, and has a 9 month old daughter. She lives in the village of Kikatiti. Augustina found the Girls Empowerment Proram through her sister, who knew one of TEKUA’s teachers. Her sister brought Augustina to TEKUA, where the Empowerment Program teacher Upendo told her about the program. Asking around the neighborhood, Augustina heard that TEKUA’s teachers were excellent, and her experience has proven them right. Augustina loves to study history, civics, English and geography in particular. When she completes the program, she hopes to go on to teacher’s college so that she can become a secondary school teacher.