This Mother’s Day, a few of the staff at AfricAid who have young daughters share their innermost feelings about their girls’ futures. Spoiler alert: it’s bright!
For Nesia (age 3 1/2)
My hope for my daughter is to see her independent and able to use her full potential to have a better life and help others in her community.
My daughter will have a strong foundation in different aspects of her life, including economic, social, and spiritual. Her life is already different at her age than mine was because she is having close parental supervision and being exposed to an environment that will help her develop different abilities. This will mold her into a responsible person.
I would like for more women in Tanzanian society to take leadership positions and be involved in the development of the country, starting with their own families.
Esther Piniel, Senior Kisa Mentor
For Priyah (age 21 months)
My biggest dream for my daughter is to see her grow up knowing that she can become whoever she wishes. I wish for her to discover her potential at a young age so that I can support her in achieving her dreams.
I wished for my own mother to be with me throughout my life. My daughter has a supportive mother who desires to see the best in her. I have already started creating the support system that she needs. I wish to be part of a generation where parents are the first role models to their kids.
I would like to see Tanzanian women and girls given opportunities without being favored just because they are female. True equality means that it doesn’t matter whether a man or a woman is contesting to be Members of Parliament or President, or if you are managing a large company or organization. I would like to see our educational system prepare kids for the careers that they are passionate about.
Chausiku Mkuya, Binti Shupavu Project Manager and Kisa Alumna
For Delyth (age 3) and Delyn (age 6 weeks)
I hope that my daughters always understand that their dreams are valid. I hope that they never let anything or anyone talk them out of their dreams.
I am raising my daughters in a different way. My older daughter is 3 years old and at this early age I am already allowing her to make simple decisions like what she would like to wear to school, which color she would like to use for her drawings etc. I believe this will encourage her to express her opinions and also help her to make bigger, more important decisions when she becomes older. I also allow my daughter to be curious and question me about anything. I did not have this sort of support growing up. I believe in role models. I want my daughters to believe that “women can” because they saw their mom do it.
Frankly, when my daughters reach my age, I would like to see all of Tanzanian society fighting for something other than womens’ rights – because equality will be commonplace and all people will be treated as human beings instead of men and women.
Devotha Mlay, AfricAid Director of Programs
For Alesha (age 2)
I have a dream that my beautiful daughter will be a strong, confident, and intelligent woman of virtue with a love of God. It is my hope that with my motherly characteristics and the life skills that I can teach her, my daughter will be fulfilled in all aspects of her life.
Her life will be quite different from mine since she will have access to high quality education, right from the primary level. I will also share with her my knowledge and experience as a Kisa Scholar and Binti Shupavu Mentor. This will help her have high self-esteem.
I would like to see Tanzanian society comprised of highly effective people who contribute to making a better world, at all ages.
Agnes Akyoo, Binti Shupavu Mentor and Kisa Alumna
These are the Faces of the Future in Tanzania!
Read Mother’s Day blogs from previous years. They are just as sweet!
2018: AfricAid Members Honor their Mothers
Kisa Scholars, Alumnae, and Mentors reflect on their moms. This article also shows how Mentors often take on a mothering role to their Scholars.
2016: I Love my Mother
Kisa Project Manager, Hadija Hassan, shares an appreciation for her lovely mom, Amina.
