Happy Holidays to all of our Girls Ed Supporters!
In this update, we're happy to share the words of one of our students. The report is late because our Tanzania project manager, Lucas had a big job of conducting interviews with our scholarship students. As he doesn't live in the village, he had to get there and then round up the students - which he actually does with surprising ease.
A Day in the Life of Lucas: Usually he starts calling people he knows in the village who have cell phones - Ashahadu, Jane, teachers, other students. He relays a message that particular students should be at a certain place (Jane's house, the school) at a certain time. Then, he travels in from town and has his meetings. I'm often amazed at the turnout, given that many of the students have to walk a fair distance to meet him.
This time, his efforts paid off! He collected several interviews from the students, then he typed them and emailed them to me. He is definitly a hard worker and he is so committed to our work! (His computer training really paid off!)
I'll spread them out over time so you can really enjoy them. Also, I'm not going to edit these much so that you can appreciate that these are Tanzanian children, living in a village in rural Tanzania - telling you about themselves in English - their second (and in some cases third) language. And - English language instruction in the elementary grades in village schools is not entirely effective. So - for these Form 1 students, these words are truly to be treasured!
Today, I'll share an interview with our Form 1 student, Safi who attends Amahoro Secondary School in Mgaraganza.
From Safi:
How are you doing in school? When I am attend at school, I am writing, I am reading together and to do some different activities at school, like to sweep, to clean toilet, and to cutting grass. I am attending at school every day and teacher teaching good. And me I am study hard.
I am going out of class and to sit because have not money for buy tea. I am sit and to play my friend who have not a money. Some students who are, drink tea.
What do you do outside of school to make sure you get good grades? From school time is three, and I am attend at home time 4 o’clock. I am start eating food and to clean my uniform for school and generally body. After finish I am going to study together with my friend. Because have not a money for tutoring, it is means we are together in order to study, in order to perform well in examination. And night I am study little because there is not enough gas.
Do you like school? Yes, because it help me to understudy to read and to write and it help get money and to increase education.
Do you think studying as a girl is different from studying as a boy? Why? Yes, because the girl many time they are doing different home’s job, also she got many bad advised in the street. She is taking long time to filling his boyfriend. By the end, she is join with love, due for that she is miss subject. By the end she got pregnant and she stop school.
What advice would you give to a girl who wants to quit school? I am advised that why you don’t want to go school, because school is better in your life. I am repeat of advise - if you don’t have education you remain as a ignorance.
What would you like to do after secondary school? I want to be a president.
**Notes:
- Schools don't provide meals, but villagers neighboring the school prepare food and/or tea for purchase. Only students who have money can buy food. This year, I'm going to consult with these adults and see how much it would cost to pay them to feed all students at the various schools we work with. Win-Win!
- Cleaning schools is part of the program in Tanzania and other countries. It instills in the children a sense of pride for their school grounds. Each student is required to buy a broom, hoe, and bucket along with uniforms and reams of paper at the beginning of secondary school. They do it in Japan, too. Take a look.
Thank you for all of your support of these girls. Please share this update by using the Facebook and Twitter buttonsbelow. Tell a friend why this cause matters to you. And, consider making another contribution as part of your year end giving for 2015!
Asante Sana!!