Solidarity for Her Education and Empowerment Organization - SHEEO
I remember when Auntie Gloria picked us up from the airport. The first thing she told me was that her entire life was dedicated to seeing the girls of Tanzania properly equipped with basic necessities and improving their quality of life, through small efforts and care gathered from school leaders across the regions. It seemed like such a tough, tough task ahead for her, and honestly, I didn’t really understand fully. Then, I got to see it for myself.
Led by Gloria, the team visits three schools every other day, giving seminars or dedicating time to educate and empower girls. I didn’t grasp the difficulty of lacking something as basic as pads, but when girls miss school for days or even weeks, it becomes clear. So many were hesitant to share their stories, their eyes troubled, as if afraid of being singled out in a group already burdened. And then, at one meeting, the girls finally opened up…
How their communities' culture and traditions may allow them to be robbed and violated of their basic human needs and rights, how their education is challenged by extreme household poverty and cultural norms. The seemingly unsolvable problem of overpopulation and lack of access to sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for adolescents' girls…
As a man, it’s hard to fully understand the struggles women face, and it’s even harder when you factor in the challenges of a place where electricity and water are unreliable. Trying to grasp everything in Swahili made it even more gut-wrenching. All I could see were brief translations and a stream of tears.
But the important thing is… I don’t have to fully understand. I can just share what I witnessed.
Unfortunately, there’s a shortage of personnel, funds, transportation to reach these schools, resources, and willing hearts to volunteer.
I cried with them, wanting to cry harder, but not even knowing how to express the kind of pain they’re going through. But these girls? They’re brave. The local heroes, they smile.
The five girls they help will take their seats at the national examination this November. Maybe they’ll become doctors, lawyers, or even politicians… changing the lives of so many more than we can imagine.
I present to you the strong and warm older sisters of these girls in Mwanza, SHEEO Tanzania.
Clarensia Ngaiza, Sayilwa Sylivester, Esther Kakoza, Sabina William, Zakia Sylivester Mhoja at Lumve Secondary School. Feb.29.24