SEGA Girls’ School
While in Tanzania, we had the opportunity to step off the beaten tourist path and make our way to Morogoro, a bustling, mid-size city with the beautiful Uluguru Mountains posing as a backdrop. Our mission was tri-fold: celebrate Thanksgiving, hike into the moutains to see Mustafa the strawberry farmer, and the main event: visit the Secondary Education for Girls’ Advancement (SEGA) school for girls. The school was founded last year by American Polly Dolan and in conjunction with financial and technical backing from Nurturing Minds in Africa. It was Polly herself who greeted us upon our arrival. Following her introduction was a hearty welcome by the girls who were prepared with a lively song and dance for us. Since it was the Muslim holiday of Eid, classes were canceled in favor of a morning spent working in the garden.
Welcome! Welcome!
A FEW DETAILS SEGA has been in operation just one year and has been quite successful. So much so, that when the new January 2010 term begins, the roster will nearly double. Thirty new girls will have the privilege of attending SEGA and the original girls will begin boarding full-time. Currently, 28 students between the ages of 14-17 are in attendance. The application process is fairly rigorous. Each girl must receive a passing score on the Standard 7’s, (standardized test in Tanzania) complete an interview, and participate in a home visit. Polly wants to ensure that each girl, as well as her family, is committed to her education. Parents are required to pay a small monthly portion of the tuition, and the remainder is made up by various sponsors that Polly, Nurturing Minds, and various other contacts have recruited. Tuition is approximately $700 per year. This is a pittance compared to most private schools in the States, but an impossible, even impractical, dream for most Tanzanian parents.
Courtyard and front of SEGA
WHY GIRLS? Girls are the ones that usually end up dropping out of school first in order to bear some sort of responsibility. That could be to maintain life at home, to care for siblings or ailing parents, to work, or to take care of their own children. Rape and sexual abuse is not uncommon. To compound the dire situation, marriage beginning at 12 years old is allowed by law. If they are not being exploited in this manner, it is quite possible that that will be sent to another country to become a domestic worker. A Tanzanian girl who has finished her education is not common; yet, through the work of SEGA and other similar schools, this can and will change.
Welcome!
MORE THAN READING AND ‘RITHMETIC Let’s get back to the garden. The garden in its current form is the product of the enthusiasm and extensive knowledge of Lindsey, an American volunteering at the school for about six months. This project fills a few important needs. First and most obviously, the girls are growing food for themselves as well as their families. Each student gets their own row to plant and harvest. The girls will even be able to sell their food back to the school, thereby earning a little money. The payoff of this project is not just a full stomach or a few shillings, although both of those are vital and necessary. The real reward comes in the sense of pride and ownership that each girl can develop. Beans might be growing in the SEGA garden- but empowerment is growing in the souls of its students.
Hard at work under the blue sky and hot sun
The morning we visited was blazing hot; not atypical for Tanzanians, but life-draining for us pansied Americans! The heat did not deter any of the girls from efficiently wielding shovels or hoes. Most of them even managed to look pretty happy about it. I marveled at the contrast between what I was watching, and what I was envisioning back home. I know plenty of American high school girls who would probably rather cut off their hair than work for even five minutes in a garden, especially one in sweltering heat. Then again, most American high school girls know when and what they are going to eat next.
Helping each other
We wrapped up the visit with a simple and delicious meal of rice, beans and mchicha, a green vegetable they are growing in their garden. The students get a hot meal every school day, cooked by a local woman. The community is involved in the education of these girls; from the cook, to the newly hired bus driver, to the security guard turned gardener who is also taking pride in some new lessons. Previously, he was only tasked with the job of ensuring nothing happened to the sparkling new facilities. Now, with a little training, he is teaching the girls how to best cultivate their rows of vegetables. His pride is tangible. The community impact has been immediate, but more importantly, sustainable. Not only are young minds being educated, but local resources are being utilized. The real fun began after lunch with a round of picture-taking. The ladies love that camera!
Love that smile on her!
CONSIDER THIS…. The school is such a beautiful demonstration of a vision come to life. The best part? The obvious pride the girls took in welcoming us to their world. Each student seems so happy to be at SEGA, to be learning, interacting, growing, and working towards something. Great women and leaders are in the imminent future for the communities of Tanzania because of schools like this one. I am privileged to have visited and to have met Polly, the volunteers, and the girls. Amanda, Suby, and I decided to pool our resources and sponsor a girl for the upcoming school term. We have been there and we can appreciate the work that is being done. Most importantly, we know exactly where our money is going. If you have any interest in contributing to this worthy cause, please let me know. There are more girls still waiting for this amazing opportunity. Interviews and home visits are being completed now for immediate admission to SEGA. If you want to check it out for yourself, please visit http://www.nurturingmindsinafrica.org/id17.html. Even better, head over to YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZjD31_W2Co to watch a brief and poignant documentary produced by Katy Karnell, our friend and contact in Tanzania, (whose home we stayed in) highlighting some of the girls’ personal stories. You will notice that the video was made prior to the total completion of the school, but the clarity of the mission is easily and quickly understood. 
This story is amazing and the video is fantastic! How did you hear about Nuturing Minds in Africa or SEGA in the first place?
This is ridiculously awesome, I would LOVE to volunteer or do some sort of work with a school like that. Such enthusiastic pupils!
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We heard about SEGA from our friend Katy who lives in Tanzania. We stayed with her and her family between each leg of our journey. She introduced us to Polly, who runs the school. Katy is also the producer of the documentary you may have watched on You Tube-she does phenomenal work! Katy knew that we wanted to branch out and do something not just for ourselves while we were there and suggested we visit the school. We’re glad we did-it was a great morning spent with the girls! Glad you girls enjoyed!
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