Nurturing Minds and SEGA's Response to COVID-19

When the Tanzanian government announced that all schools had to close, SEGA had about a day to get all the girls home. That meant there was no time to send the girls with any homework. The students live in many regions of Tanzania from 20 miles to 200 miles away from the school. SEGA ensured all the girls made it home safely, including those who had a seven-hour bus ride and a motorcycle ride to get home.

Staff sewed three masks for each student to include in the education and emergency assistance packages.

TASK FORCE

Nurturing Minds and SEGA immediately put together a Covid-19 Task Force, comprising both SEGA staff in Tanzania and in the US NM staff, board members and several medical professionals. The Task Force works to determine how to connect with the girls, keep them safe, help them continue with their studies, and ensure they have accurate medical information and resources as access to media can be a limitation. The US team is able to share what is happening in the States to help anticipate what may start to happen in Tanzania and the Tanzania team is on the ground and can respond to the needs of the girls as they hear of them.

CHECK INS

Every week the SEGA matrons and counselors check in with the SEGA students and their families. Many girls have phones and can communicate with WhatsApp, and for those who don’t have their own, they can borrow a phone but use their own SIM cards. SEGA graduates also have their WhatsApp group conversation. From these check-ins we learned that some of the girls were only eating one meal a day and so we were able to send them extra money for food. From observing neighboring countries and from the uncharacteristically heavy rains in Tanzania, we anticipate that food shortages will become an increasing issue and the Task Force is exploring how NM/SEGA can continue to help the girls with this.

ONGOING EDUCATION

Because of the order to immediately close the schools, there was no time to send the girls with school work. Since then, SEGA staff printed and compiled education packets of about 30 pages, designed to align with the students’ subjects. The Form 2 and 4 students will take the national exam this year, so their packets are geared to helping them prepare for those. As of now, those have not been canceled. SEGA staff also sewed masks, and put soap and 3 masks per student in the education packets. They also put together information about the virus, social distancing and how to properly wear the masks in Swahili (Tanzania’s national language) so that the girls’ families and broader community also have access to accurate information about COVID-19. Now the girls can continue their studies and serve as a valuable resource for their community.

Msichana Kisasa (Modern Girl) recipients appreciate receiving protective masks.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Some of SEGA’s recent graduates serve as mentors for 900 girls across 20 communities through the Msichana Kisasa (Modern Girl) Outreach Program and check in on these girls and their families to offer guidance and support. The Msichana Kisasa clubs have asked for masks since they do not have access to any. SEGA mentors made liquid hand soap for all 900 mentees and shared the Covid-19 resources with them as well which provides instructions how to avoid the virus, proper use of a mask and what to do should you become sick. Our community coordinators check in on the mentors to ensure they also have what they need.  This week in response to their request SEGA made 2,800 more masks which the mentors are delivering to all 900 MK girls (3 for each girl)!

EMPOWERED GIRLS

Initially, the government said schools would close for a month, but that has now become an indefinite closure. To keep the girls hopeful, motivated and safe, SEGA is developing a Life Skills Pamphlet to remind the girls what they’ve learned in school, to maintain their dreams, how to advocate for themselves and defend themselves. Like us, the girls are scared. SEGA’s counselors and Life Skills teachers have started calling all 260 students individually to provide emotional support and additional check- ins to make sure students are okay. The girls also have the Headmistresses’ cell number so they can call her like a direct hotline if they cannot wait until the weekly check in.

Education and emergency assistance packages were delivered to each of SEGA’s 260 students.

We are always concerned about the girls’ safety. COVID-19 is exacerbating the challenges that already existed for the SEGA students, challenges that led Nurturing Minds to establish and support SEGA in the first place - to provide hope and empowerment to girls living in abject poverty. During the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leon there was an increase in teen pregnancy and girls did not return to school. We do not want this to be the case in Tanzania.

Now that SEGA students are back home we are committed to providing them with resources they need to eat, assignments to continue their studies, and encouragement to feel confident protecting themselves from the virus.

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If you would like to hear more, please listen to the Nurturing Minds and SEGA May COVID-19 webinar.

The health, safety and well-being of our students, teachers and other staff is our top priority. SEGA and Nurturing Minds are following all Tanzanian government and Ministry of Health guidelines. We continue to support our students and pay our teachers. If you are able, please consider donating to the SEGA COVID-19 Emergency Fund. This Fund provides immediate and on-going emergency assistance needs for our students, graduates, Msichana Kisasa Community Outreach Club members and staff during this crisis.