In 2023, AfricAid’s local partner, GLAMI, plans to expand their UNESCO Award Winning mentoring programming beyond Arusha and Kilimanjaro to a third region of Tanzania: the Morogoro region. As many as many as 8,225 total girls could be reached in 2023 thanks to this expansion. The Binti Shupavu mentoring program, which was tailored to address key challenges that lead to tens of thousands of Tanzanian girls dropping out of secondary school every year, will launch in January.
In Morogoro, secondary school completion rates are low; only 0.2% of girls complete lower secondary compared to 1.2% of boys. Data from the Tanzanian government shows that the Morogoro region has the second highest rate of school age pregnancies in the entire country. Girls in this region need Binti Shupavu.
Expansion, Paired with a Pathbreaking Research Study
This programmatic expansion to Morogoro will be coupled with a pathbreaking four-year randomized control study that will follow girls who progress through Binti Shupavu vs. those who do not. The study, led by our partners at AMPLIFY Girls, is designed to demonstrate the effect of Binti Shupavu on girls’ agency, the effect of agency on girls’ academic retention and achievement, and shine a light on the practices and program components that contribute to girls’ agency.
The success of Binti Shupavu and Kisa Project has already been documented by research conducted by AMPLIFY Girls. They found that Binti Shupavu helps girls develop the life skills they need to survive in school and beyond, at statistically significant levels when it comes to self-esteem, empowerment, volunteerism, public speaking, conflict resolution and self-awareness. Similarly, a longitudinal study of Kisa Project has demonstrated that this program increases girls’ agency, improves their leadership skills, helps develop higher self-efficacy and self-esteem, empowerment, and positive gender attitudes, all at statistically significant levels.
In Her Words: Meet Binti Scholar Zahra
Zahra* is a Year 1 Binti Shupavu Scholar. In the interview below, Zahra shares what she wants to become one day, why she joined Binti Shupavu, and how she thinks it will help her reach her goals. She also shares what her parents thought about her joining the program and what she’d say to other girls that might be considering joining.
She also told us what she thought you should know about Binti Shupavu.
The interviewer’s voice has been edited out of this video so you can hear Zahra’s thoughts on Binti Shupavu in one short, inspiring clip, and we’re pasting a transcript below. We hope you enjoy “meeting” her as much as we did – and we hope you enjoy hearing her perspective on the Binti Shupavu program.
Impactful programs like Binti Shupavu are only possible thanks to generous support from our funders and donors – like you! Join us and help us support GLAMI’s goal of enrolling as many as 8,225 Scholars in mentoring programs next year: Donate Now.
What career will you pursue one day?
I want to be a doctor in order to help people. Those who face challenges, maybe they’re sick, they’re not able to do anything. I just want to help them so that they may reach their purpose of their life.
Why did you want to join Binti Shupavu?
Actually, I wanted to join Binti Shupavu in order so that I can face challenges, which you meet at school, and I want to be punctual and I want to reach my goals. So, I just wanted inspiration in my life.
How will Binti Shupavu help you reach your goals?
It’ll help me reach my goals because, first of all, it makes me think positive, to have confidence and to help me to face challenges, which many girls have fear to face them. For an example, Binti Shupavu made me to have confidence and think positive, always – not think negative.
What did your parents think when you told them you had joined Binti Shupavu?
My actually my parents were very happy to hear that I’ve joined because they know that when I joined this, I’ll have confidence and I’ll know how to defend myself as a lady from different things, which can make me get hurt.
What would you say to a girl considering joining Binti Shupavu?
If you have an opportunity to get into Binti Shupavu, you better get it! First of all, it will help you to have confidence, to think positive, to be puncture and help you to reach your goals as a girl.
What do you think other people should know about Binti Shupavu?
Within Binti Shupavu, many ladies have been helped. There are many of them that, that they are poor. They have poverty, they don’t have money to buy sanitary pads to get education. But Binti Shupavu supports them and gives them hope to think their life , and to reach their goals as girls.
Why We’re Confident Zahra Will Reach Her Goals
Girls who enroll in the mentoring programming AfricAid supports are more likely to complete their education and graduate at higher levels, with higher test scores than their peers.
- Scholars are designing their own futures. Across both Binti Shupavu and Kisa Project, 100% of graduating Scholars said they planned to further their education and pursue employment.
- Scholars become leaders in their communities. Kisa Scholars (96%) report actively seeking leadership opportunities. 80% of Kisa alumnae said they had a leadership position in school, at work, or in the community.
- Scholars know how to make healthy choices. In Tanzania, 50% of all women have their first child before their 20th birthday. GLAMI Scholars consistently report pregnancies at a rate of lower than 3%.
The success of Binti Shupavu and Kisa Project has also been documented by a third party research study conducted by AMPLIFY Girls. They found that Binti Shupavu helps girls develop the life skills they need to survive in school and beyond, at statistically significant levels when it comes to self-esteem, empowerment, volunteerism, public speaking, conflict resolution and self-awareness. Similarly, a longitudinal study of Kisa Project has demonstrated that this program increases girls’ agency, improves their leadership skills, helps develop higher self-efficacy and self-esteem, empowerment, and positive gender attitudes, all at statistically significant levels.
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