Empowerment Through Education

The story of Siaba, a Sasamani sponsored student.

As Sasamani prepares the launch of our student sponsorship campaign: Each student, every dream to fund the education of our incredible students in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, I find myself thinking about the month of September.

For me, a Central New York native, September has always meant heading back to school. It meant a new grade, the promise of new knowledge, and another step towards graduation. This year, as schools and students across the country face the staggering struggle of re-opening amidst a pandemic, the reality is that despite these immense challenges, September still means 'Back-to-School' whether remote or in-person. This knee-jerk, automatic assumption that another September brings another school year is something I have taken for granted my entire life.

For many students in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, the ability to head back to school for the next academic year is not a guarantee. Sasamani believes it should be.

This is where Sasamani's holistic student sponsorship initiative takes effect, by assuring students that they will be able to return to school next year, without worry; that there are people in the world who believe in their potential; and that their aspirations are not limited by their situations.

Nothing speaks louder to illustrate the cyclical empowerment student-sponsorship creates than the story of one of our amazing students: Siaba.

Sasamani's education director, Gladness, was introduced to Siaba after school faculty alerted Gladness to Siaba's situation. Siaba's family was unable to afford her school fees for the following year. This educational insecurity took a toll, and Siaba began performing poorly in her studies. As she does with all sponsored students, Gladness began working one-on-one with Siaba to begin building her self-confidence. Siaba was assured of her ability to continue her education, and her sponsor communicated with her through letters, encouraging her to work hard and pursue her goals. Siaba's grades and participation improved markedly, and she flourished. When she sat for her final national exams, she was among the highest-ranking students in her entire class and she was invited to join high school. Siaba graduated from high school First-Class, and now attends the University of Dodoma, where she is pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Biology.

Whenever Siaba is on school holiday, she comes back to Bagamoyo and accompanies Gladness on school visits, encouraging current students to study hard and stay focused. Even though Siaba herself still faces personal challenges, she has an intense passion for helping others and is now a role model for current students.

Gladness is proud to say that Siaba has started to make her own decisions without worrying if she will fail or succeed. She is confident. She is self-assured. She is giving back.

And that is Sasamani's vision in a nutshell: through education, students are empowered to face the difficulties with which they are presented with a renewed sense of self-confidence and a profound desire to help others.
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Thanks to contributions from our generous sponsors, each Sasamani student, like Siaba, receives holistic support designed to eliminate all educational barriers so that they can thrive, including:

• Tuition Fees
• Accommodation
• Three Meals a Day
• Uniforms
• Schools Bags
• Stationary
• Sanitary Pads
• Soap bars
• Health Insurance Cards

Sasamani is thrilled to launch the student sponsorship campaign soon, so that we may continue to support our current student cohort and expand our reach to even more students in the Bagamoyo community. When you choose to sponsor a Sasamani student, you are not only paying tuition fees: you are giving a young-person the security that the start of the academic year will also be their 'Back-to-School'; you are encouraging them to believe in their innate potential and make decisions with confidence; and you are empowering them to dream limitless dreams.

With deep gratitude,
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Rachael Lieblein-Jurbala
Former Sasamani Intern and Current Board Member