Over the river and through the … cassava fields we go. Lucas, his brother Maiko (Michael) and I walked 7 hours on Thursday July 11th to collect applications from girls at 4 primary schools in Kagongo and Mgaraganza villages. We started reasonably early so the sun didn’t beat down on us until we had finished our final school visit. We meandered through forests, fields, villages – along tarmac, paths and dusty roads – past goats, sheep, chickens and many many watoto! Oh how I love the kids.
The ensuing walk to Jane’s house was a little toasty. I’ve written of Jane often in previous blogs. She is our friend (and Ashahadu’s wife) in Mgaraganza village who unfailingly cooks us lunch before we make the journey back to town. She is also the very gracious host that has given much love, laughter, a bed and food to a few of my friends and interns who have passed through with Project Wezesha. We all love Jane – aka, Mama Mickey!
(Mickey (Mike) is her son and it’s customary to call woman by the title Mama followed by the name of their first born. Lucas’ mother for example is Mama Sofia – Sofia being Lucas’ older sister, the firstborn.)
Our original aim of selecting 30 girls for the new Girls Education Tanzania program holds, however our numbers have shifted a bit to accommodate numbers in various villages. Mgaraganza village with a population of about 12,000 residents has four primary schools. We have accepted 10 applications from this village. We decided to reduce the number of girls accepted from Kalalangabo, Mtanga and Kigalie because each village on the lake has only 1 primary school. If we were to accept 6 from each, it would be a stretch for the head teacher of each school to even identify 6 that would successfully pass the examinations to go to secondary school. If, however, when the results come back we discover that there are more girls in these villages who pass through to secondary school, then we will have some space to negotiate. Basically, we’ll know by the end of next week how many spots we fill and we won’t force 30 if 30 aren’t eligible.
On our first recruitment mission, we received applications for the following lovely young girls, who were shy, but giggled with their hands over their mouths as I greeted them in English, told them about the program and congratulated them for having high marks – earning them top ranks among the girls in their class. Two of the girls were not only the first among the girls, but the first among all students: Dola and Sada. Way to go, you rock stars!
Check out Girls Education International on Facebook to see an album filled with all the girls we are welcoming into our Tanzania program! www.facebook.com/GirlsEd