“My name is Prisca Kalinga. I am fifteen years old. I come from Iringa. I am the first born in my family. Since I was six years old I’ve been living with my aunt because my mother took me there, as there was a school near her place. I reached grade six and I was chased from school due to pregnancy. I stayed at home and gave birth two months premature. My child was sick several times, and after two months my child died. I was staying at home selling buns and I thought my dreams have been shattered. I was very happy to be selected to join SEGA. My dream is to be a doctor.”
Prisca Kalinga’s story of her life in Tanzania is one of several I read or watched videos of, when I was first asked to host an awareness party for Nurturing Minds. I was amazed at the courage and joy these girls displayed given the circumstances of their lives and I’m grateful that she’s had the opportunity to enroll in the secondary school program run by SEGA (Secondary Education for Girls’ Advancement) in partnership with Nurturing Minds, a U.S. nonprofit. The first class of students all share similar backgrounds to Prisca Kalinga. For each of these girls SEGA is an unexpected opportunity. I’m proud to raise awareness of these girls’ situations and offer my friends a very concrete way to help more girls succeed.
Why Focus on Secondary Education for Girls?
Tanzania is a country rich in resources yet 36% of its population lives in extreme poverty. The government began funding primary education in 2002 but secondary education remains fee-based. As a result, only 20% of students attend secondary school – one of the lowest rates in Africa. Girls are particularly disadvantaged, with only one girl for every two boys graduating from high school. Between the ages of 12 and 15, girls become most vulnerable to dropping out due to early marriage and pregnancy, or becoming involved in prostitution or child labor to help support their families. Protecting a daughter from sexual exploitation and the risk of HIV infection also become factors in keeping a daughter at home.
Conversely, diverse research has shown that girls who earn a high school diploma will earn nearly four times more than a girl with only a primary education directly impacting the lives of their family and community. They marry later, have nearly half as many children and are better equipped to nurture their own offspring. In the big picture, these improvements dramatically affect Tanzania’s ability to compete for business against other Eastern African countries; encourage foreign investment and break the cycle of poverty.
Self-sustaining Model for School & Girls
What particularly drew me to Nurturing Minds and SEGA was their commitment to developing the self-esteem of girls as part of their education. Fostering their leadership and entrepreneurial skills is an investment with a powerful payback. As a supporter, I’m also impressed at the manner in which they’ve planned to integrate the curriculum to include training in small-scale business operations. These same businesses can generate income for the operation of the school itself. As the school is located on 30 acres of farmland, one of the businesses will be involved in the sale of produce and dairy products.
What it Means for Me
I’m excited to be involved with a grassroots organization that allows me to share my resources on a personal level. Their style of fundraising is much different than the typical gala or silent auction I’ve usually attended. I’ve heard artists refer to the concept of 1000 True Fans to describe the base of support they need to fund a project or sustain a career. It works equally for a program like SEGA where each girl needs only a small measure of support to make wonderful changes in their lives and the lives of their community.
To learn more about Nurturing Minds and the Sega Girls’ School visit their Web site or contact Tracey Dolan at 610-639-1213. Nurturing Minds, Inc. P.O. Box 144, Valley Forge, PA 19481.
—by Patricia Smith
