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3-Minute read On International Women's Day, Sasamani celebrates this year's theme: "Embrace Equity." From individual belief systems to community investment in women and girls' education and empowerment, embracing equity is inherently an individual and a community act. Sasamani takes today to acknowledge that the work to increase gender equity in East Africa does not happen in a silo: It takes a village! Sasamani's impact is made possible by the effort, support, belief, and buy-in from a vast web of people and organizations, who advocate for equitable access to education and employment opportunities for ALL people. We extend our gratitude to the many who make Sasamani’s work possible:
Most importantly, embracing equity comes from within. Sasamani knows that the largest barriers to achieving gender equity are social and cultural norms. We are constantly inspired by the women and girls who participate in Sasamani's programs, who boldly re-write this narrative and are agents of change for themselves and their community. Since Sasamani's founding in 2012 and thanks to the collaboration of so many, we have witnessed community buy-in and advocacy for girls' education in Bagamoyo grow by leaps and bounds. Gladness Kulola, Sasamani's Education Director, says: "I have observed both the girls and their parents becoming more eager and thirsty for girls' education in the last ten years. The overall cooperation from the Bagamoyo parents and community has been outstanding and very positive, making me proud of our future society." And the important work continues! YOU can #EmbraceEquity this International Women's Day and support Sasamani's initiatives:1. Donate: Your financial support makes our work possible! Any amount is sincerely appreciated and will be applied directly to Sasamani programs. 2. Sponsor a Student: A monthly $30 donation covers school fees from middle school through university and ensures each student's basic needs are met, including food, boarding costs, hygiene supplies, school supplies, and transportation. 3. Advocacy: Engage in conversations with friends, family, and community that celebrate and advance the ideas, contributions, and achievements of women and girls. Collective action makes the change. We thank the entire Sasamani community for supporting, advocating for, and believing in women and girls' education and empowerment. Together we continue to push the needle forward. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead This article was written by: Rachael Lieblein-Jurbala, Sasamani U.S. Board of Directors, and 2018 Sasamani Intern.
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Neema holds a Bachelor's Degree in Development Studies from the University of Dodoma, and a Master's Degree in Community Economic Development from the Open University of Tanzania. Neema launched her professional career first as a Research Assistant with Synnovate Research Institute, where she conducted social and political research across Tanzania, and then as Sales and Marketing Officer for Dama Media Limited. From 2012-2016, she served as Project Coordinator for the Bagamoyo Girls' Education Association (BAGEA), a non-governmental organization dedicated to women and girl's education, empowerment and economic development. Neema joined Sasamani’s Tanzanian Board of Directors as an advisor in 2012, and formally became a part of the Sasamani Team in October, 2017, when she began coordinating the Women Leading Change program's operations and recruiting efforts. Neema has also received professional training in East African Youth Entrepreneurship from the International Labour Organization; Gender, Women's Empowerment, and Globalization from the Thomson Reuters Foundation; and Project Management and Fundraising from the Foundation for Civil Society. "Sasamani envisions improving gender equality and increasing access to education and employment opportunities for women and girls in East Africa so they can positively impact their families and communities. This work is not only my area of expertise, but is also where my heart and focus are." Neema says. "Through the teamwork and spirit of the Sasamani Foundation, together we will leave a remarkable impact on East African youth and women."  Neema handing the Women Leading Change certificate to one of the graduates. Neema joins an illustrious team of dedicated Sasamani full-time staff, including Gladness Kulola, Education Director, and Tialda Frolich-Rienstra, Executive Director. Both the U.S. and Tanzanian Board of Directors extend a warm welcome to Neema in her additional capacity as Country Director, and look forward to her continued leadership and valuable contributions in furthering Sasamani's mission to improve gender equity in East Africa.  Today, the Sasamani Foundation stands together with the world in celebrating the achievements of women, in raising awareness against bias, and in taking action for equality. We envision a future in which all possibilities for women and girls are equitable and attainable. It is our mission to improve gender equity in East Africa. Our initiatives increase access to education and employment opportunities for women and girls, empowering them to shape their own futures and cultivate positive change in their communities. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias. Sasamani beneficiaries, staff, and board members exemplify this 2022 International Women's Day theme. Every day, Sasamani sponsored students are determined to stay focused on their studies. Every day, Women Leading Change graduates use their unique voices to solve complex and systemic issues. Every day, entrepreneurs in Sasamani's employment program strive to support their families. Every day, Sasamani staff and board members lead initiatives to improve gender equity in East Africa. Together we effect positive change within family structures, within organizations, and within communities. Together we are committed to #BreakTheBias. Today, we share #BreakTheBias stories of Sasamani beneficiaries and staff members and celebrate their achievements.
"I took a step forward in facilitating my fellow East African women to develop their leadership skills through the Women Leading Change Program. I am responsible for the Learning and Development department of Tanzania's largest Financial Services Provider and the voice of encouragement for women in my company. Through the Women Group Mentoring Program that I lead, I provide confidence building and other capacity building program and #BreakTheBias." - Edith, Women Leading Change Graduate
 Hello everyone!
My name is Laura Delgado, and I am Sasamani's Interim Executive Director, temporarily standing in for Tialda while she is on leave. I wanted to introduce myself and also share with you all how excited I am for this year's annual appeal drive! (Really, I am actually VERY excited!). I wanted to begin by thanking Tialda and both the US and Tanzanian Board of Directors for trusting me with this position! I am so grateful for the opportunity and chance to work with such talented and inspiring people. Seriously, I am inspired daily by the amazing people who make Sasamani tick, Gladness, Neema Harold, Elias, and of course Erica and Andy. One of the many things that excites me about Sasamani is the direct impact this foundation has on the lives of women and girls. Every penny donated is spent on a girl's education, health care, school fees, or training fees to deliver EXTREMELY high quality transformational coaching. I first came to know of Sasamani through the Women Leading Change program, which provides a 6 month long transformational leadership program and coaching to East African women, arming them with incredible tools to assist them in taking leadership roles in local community and management positions. I was lucky enough to work with the amazing Neema Harold, and we reviewed all the applications for this past year's virtual program. I was completely blown away by the women who applied, their life stories, adversities overcome, and addicting optimism for life and thirst for knowledge. It is truly special. Seeing them go from applicants to graduates of the WLC program is an inspiration. WLC seeks to unlock the potential and talents these women already have, and help them focus efforts to be the change. Try watching the graduation video without tearing up, it's a challenge! Learning about the other programs, especially the Education program led by our incredible Education Director, has been one of those life altering epiphanies. First of all, Gladness personally interviews every potential student, all of their teachers and works with their parents. Her level of dedication and attention to detail, and compassion, is something to wonder at. She spends untold hours helping the students prepare for exams, waiting in line to make sure they are all registered for health care, attends every graduation ceremony, she is the most dedicated Auntie to these students you have ever seen! I really can't express how impressed I am by her dedication and talents. All of this is to say, if you decide to donate this year, which I hope that you do, it is going to a special, well thought out place that will directly impact our efforts. We had six Sasamani students graduate college this year! All fees, tuition, lodging, healthcare and supplies were paid for by donors. The remaining 68 students are in primary school, and some of them need sponsors. Please visit our Sponsor a Student section to read their bios. We have a very ambitious plan this coming year to partner with Escala, another nonprofit working to develop entrepreneurs, and donations will help us succeed and achieve these goals. What I love about Sasamani is that your donation doesn't disappear into a black hole of overhead and fees. When you donate, you know you are making a different in someone's life, you are offering to spread HOPE. I hope you and your loved ones have a fantastic holiday season, and if you are in a place to give, I hope that you consider helping our students and the Sasamani mission. It has been a very difficult year for so many women and girls around the world. In Tanzania, you have the opportunity to make one decision, education, a little easier for some families. When you invest in a woman, you invest in lasting social change. Asanta Sana, Thank you, Laura Delgado 3-minute read By: Cia Martins, Sasamani Intern. As Sasamani launches its annual student sponsorship campaign: Ripples of Change, one of the Sasamani sponsored students shares how the sponsorship impacted her life.  Meet Siaba! Siaba, 24 years, recently graduated from the University of Dodoma. Siaba joined the Sasamani sponsorship program in 2014 when she was at Kingani Middle School. Since then, Siaba has gained a bachelor's degree in Biology and intends to pursue a career in public health research. Her goal is to join the fight to prevent disease in her community and in Tanzania at large. Siaba explained to us that her area of expertise is in "causative agents, such as vectors and other microorganisms, that can be cultured, so as to assess the effective measures of controlling them". Siaba shares that when she joined Sasamani, her intention was to "invest all my efforts into my studies" as she wants to become a contributing woman to society. She notes that she still has a way to go, but those who work with her have no doubt she will exceed her own expectations. Siaba's commitment to her community, to her learning, and to her future exemplifies Sasamani's mission: To empower women and girls to shape their own futures and thereby cultivating happier, healthier, and more prosperous communities. Siaba's journey Like many sponsored students, Siaba's journey did not start smoothly. When she was introduced to Sasamani, her family was unable to afford her school fees for the following year. This educational insecurity took a toll, and she began performing poorly in her studies. After working with Gladness, our Education Director, and through the correspondence with her sponsor, Siaba started to get more confidence in her ability to achieve her educational goals. Siaba's grades improved remarkably. Siaba ended up graduating from high school first in her class!  In speaking with us, Siaba said that one of her favorite things about Sasamani was the ability to "meet with different people, explore new knowledge, and ways to overcome life challenges". Committed to the community of Sasamani students, Siaba encouraged Sasamani to facilitate more gatherings between students from the different schools, so that students can have conversations about "how to be innovative after completing their studies, and create an even more expansive social education". Like many Sasamani students, Siaba is engaged, perseverant, and ambitious. What's next Siaba is one of the six students who graduated from the Sasamani program this summer. They have achieved the educational goals they set for themselves. And while we celebrate their triumphs and the ways in which they persevered, we also acknowledge that their journeys are just beginning. Currently, Sasamani and the graduates are exploring how support looks like in this new phase of their lives. Thank you! As we embark on the sponsorship campaign for 2021: Ripples of Change, we want to thank our generous donors for ensuring that all 75 Sasamani sponsored students have the opportunity and motivation to overcome obstacles with a renewed sense of self-confidence, made possible by the security of education. "The Sasamani Foundation is a special organization without which many of us, in one way or another, could fail to reach our goals and dreams. I would like to take this opportunity to give a special thanks to all Sasamani supporters for the sponsorship on behalf of all Sasamani students". - Siaba, Sasamani Sponsored Student. Will you help us to increase access to educational opportunities for girls in East Africa?
 This year's IWD campaign theme is #ChooseToChallenge A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge. We at Sasamani choose to challenge the idea that women are natural leaders. We know that WHEN WOMEN LEAD, THEY CHANGE THE WORLD! The Sasamani Foundation and the University of Dar es Salaam strive together to empower women's leadership in East Africa. Because when women are empowered to lead, they can achieve transformative, positive change not only within family structures, but also within organizations and communities. The Women Leading Change program paves the way by supporting women to find their unique voices and solve the complex and systemic issues in East Africa. On 3/8/21 we aim to raise $3821 in support of Sasamani's Women Leading Change Program. Be part of the change and make your gift today: Your support will show that you choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. That you want to create an inclusive world where more women lead and change the world for better. This campaign will close on 3/14/2021. Women Leading Change graduates, coaches and facilitators joining in #choosetochallenge
To ensure The Sasamani Foundation's continued success in fighting poverty in East Africa, we rely upon your generosity. Donations at any level have an immediate positive impact. Empower a student to achieve their dreams- The surest road out of poverty is education. Sasamani commits to support students from middle school through university. A $30 monthly (or $360 annual) donation guarantees sponsorship for one student. Sasamani's holistic sponsorship covers education, room and board, a school uniform, health insurance, hygiene supplies, and access to a social worker. A sponsorship also offers the opportunity for correspondence directly with the sponsored student. "It is my dream to become a teacher. I want to help students to become successful in society."- Suzana, Sasamani Sponsored Student. Inspire emerging women leaders to lead change- When you invest in a woman, you invest in lasting social change. Sasamani and the University of Dar es Salaam collaborate to deliver the Women Leading Change program for high-potential, mid-career women in East Africa. This program brings experienced educators from academic institutions such as the London Business School (UK), John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (US), the University of Pennsylvania (US), and the University of Agder (Norway). A donation of $2,500 provides a scholarship for one participant. As a scholarship sponsor, you can correspond directly with the leader you support, learning first-hand how her life is impacted. "Even being a leader for so many years, I was able to change the way I lead other people, organizations, and started my own businesses."-Mama Thea, Women Leading Change Graduate and Coach. Provide dignified employment opportunities- Sasamani's employment initiative generates fair wages that help tailors lift themselves out of poverty while doing something they love. You can purchase their hand-crafted bags on our online shop. 100% of the profits are redirected to Sasamani's education program. We are also pleased to coordinate purchase of larger quantities and/ or custom-made bags. "The income I earned through Sasamani has given me confidence in satisfying my needs, for example I managed to renovate my working place."- Tatu, Sasamani Tailor Help to break the cycle of poverty in East Africa- Unrestricted donations support our mission across all programs and cover operating costs including the salaries of our passionate and dedicated in-country staff. Sasamani's 2021 budget of USD $250,000 covers all our programs, the Education, Women Leading Change, and the Employment program, and our operating expenses. You can also donate by mailing a check directly to
P.O. Box 315 Old Mystic, CT 06372. Tax deductible donations of any kind are gratefully accepted. Please sign-up for the Sasamani newsletter and follow our social media channels to see the impact of your support. Many thanks for your consideration to provide women and students in East Africa with opportunities and hope for the future. Asante Sana!  BAGAMOYO - Today, The Sasamani Foundation received a Certificate of Appreciation for Education Development in Bagamoyo, Tanzania!
The annual event is organized by the Bagamoyo District Council and recognizes the efforts of organizations, NGOs, Schools, Principals, Teachers, Students, and other stakeholders to raise academic performance in national examinations. The Sasamani Foundation is amongst 24 winners from hundreds of participants. The selections are based on quarterly government progress reports and are a result from follow-ups with partners and beneficiaries. Gladness Kulola, Sasamani Education Director - "I feel so proud Sasamani received this recognition from the Bagamoyo District Council. It is a great motivation for all the Sasamani students, our partner schools and our staff". We would like to thank the Bagamoyo District Council for this important recognition, our dedicated staff in Tanzania for their efforts, and the amazing Sasamani students for their excellent performance in the national exams. We also want to thank our generous student sponsors and donors for their continued support to the Sasamani Education Program. We could not be more grateful. THANK YOU!  Jambo! We are very excited to announce that we are participating in Giving Tuesday 2020! Tomorrow, on December 1st, is Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement encouraging people to foster and celebrate generosity in any way possible. This year we are joining the movement to help women and girls in East Africa to achieve their dreams and shape their own future. The Sasamani Foundation works to empower women and girls through providing sponsorships to students from the most vulnerable families, we provide dignified employment opportunities to tailors in the Bagamoyo area in Tanzania, and through our Women Leading Change program we support emerging women leaders to lead change. "It is my dream to become a teacher. I want to help students to become successful in society."- Suzana, Sasamani Sponsored Student. Will you empower women and students in East Africa on Giving Tuesday? Donations at any level have an immediate positive impact. And on Giving Tuesday your donation can even have a bigger, positive impact! Facebook will match $7 million USD in donations made to qualifying nonprofits, like Sasamani, starting December 1st at 8 am ET. "The income I earned through Sasamani has given me confidence in satisfying my needs, for example I managed to renovate my working place."- Tatu, Sasamani Tailor Proceeds will go towards our goal this year to provide holistic sponsorships for 73 students, dignified employment opportunities to the tailors in Bagamoyo and to the Women Leading Change program. "Even being a leader for so many years, I was able to change the way I lead other people, organizations, and started my own businesses."- Mama Thea, WLC Graduate and Coach. How to give
The 'Sasamani Giving Tuesday 2020 Campaign' is now live on our Facebook page. Support our goal by donating and by spreading the word on Sasamani's mission. Please consider sharing the Sasamani fundraiser or create your own fundraiser on Facebook. We are thankful for your support! Kwaheri kwa sasa! (Bye for now!) |
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