“When I come home from school, I help my mother to sell vegetables in Gungu Market. While sitting at my mother’s table at the market, I saw many girls my age who are pregnant or already have a child. They seem to have so much trouble. I asked myself - if I do not get this supporter from Project Wezesha and Girls Education International, will I be the same like those girls?”
In her note of gratitude to Shelmina, Edasta wrote, “My promise to you is that from my heart, I will be studying hard so that to reach my dreams. Then after accomplishing my studies I will find the work from any company so that my dream will become true of helping my family from poor life to better life with all society.” Many students in our program pursue their education with the stated goals of improving their society and supporting their families – embodying the community spirit of Tanzania.
One of our greatest highlights for 2020 is that we are celebrating the first university student from among our scholarship recipients! Edasta completed high school this year. She performed well on her national exams and applied to two university programs. She was accepted and reported to university in November 2020! Please join us in congratulating her and wishing her all the success possible in her studies. Our friend and super supporter, Shelmina of Seattle, WA offered to cover Edasta’s university tuition. #GratitudeOverload
Lucas interviewed Edasta.
Here is her story.
I was born in Mgaraganza village, I was raised in the village - studying primary in a village, studying secondary in a village, studying high school in a village.
I have always lived with my mother. My birth father passed away when I was 4 years old. My mother - because she was a young - got remarried and moved from Mgaraganza to Gungu where I live now. I still visit my grandMother often in Mgaranganza.
When I come home from school, I help my mother to sell vegetables in Gungu Market. While sitting at my mother’s table at the market, I saw many girls my age who are pregnant or already have a child. They seem to have so much trouble. I asked myself - if I do not get this supporter from Project Wezesha and Girls Education International, will I be the same like those girls?
At university, I want to study Procurement it will be easy to find a job in a company, a dispensary, ata school, in the government, etc. I see the challenge of my country - now many people do not have jobs and they live with a bad life, like my stepdad.
In school, I studied hard because I wanted to show the village parents who don’t believe girls can achieve their dreams. Kaka Lucas encouraged me many times. Thank you very much, kaka!
As a girl who was finishing all my studies in the village, I saw many challenges faced by the girls in many villages.
Bad vision from parents - they believe girls need to be marred only and not to study.
The girls do not understand the importance of education.
There is a lack of teachers.
What people can do? I recommend:
A group of girls from the village completed their studies in the village and succeeded can arrange a special day to visit the schools and encourage girls to believe it’s possible to go to high school and university.
Hire more teachers for village schools.
Provide a seminar for the parents to dispel beliefs that girls can’t excel. Some girls pass the examination but the parents do not pay fees and other costs. But if boys pass the examination they will borrow the money and pay.
Keep asking donors for support. Ask people who have enough money and are willing to support girls in the village. This will be very good. The number of girls who will join university like me will be increased.
Finally, I want to say:
Thank you very much to Girls Education International for supporting me from the beginning up to now.
Thank you very much aunt Rai and brother Lucas for supporting me via Project Wezesha from the beginning up to now.
Thank you very much brother Lucas for supporting me and for giving me good advice. I made it this far because of you.