Have You Heard Peggy’s Story?
“Peggy” is not her real name but her story is real. Peggy’s story is probably very different from yours, especially during this ongoing global pandemic.
Peggy modeling the dress and purse she made during her entrepreneurial class before SEGA closed.
While most of us are fairly comfortable in our homes with running water, air-conditioning, electricity, access to quality medical care and Wi-Fi so we can communicate and be entertained with several computer devices, Peggy now has none of that back in her village. Although SEGA and all Tanzanian schools are currently closed due to COVID-19, it doesn’t stop us from reaching out to each of our 260 students on a weekly basis. We support them by sharing important information about the crisis and to provide emergency assistance both financially and emotionally. The following is just one student’s story.
Peggy lives outside Dodoma, Tanzania’s capital city. From there, it is a two-hour trek down a dirt road from the main highway to a small, very poor village. Now a Form 4 student, she has been at SEGA for four years. With her parents both deceased, she lives with her aunt, uncle and cousin.
Life was good while she was at SEGA. She was receiving a quality, expense-free education with secure housing, electricity, hearty meals and a full-time nurse on campus. All that has changed now that she is back home in her village.
Peggy is one of the 33 students out of 260 who recently received financial assistance from SEGA to provide food. Her aunt and uncle are in poor health and unable to earn money. She now earns minimal wages by riding a bus two hours each way to harvest maize. She says only a few of the riders on the very crowded buses wear masks. She washes her hands when possible but water is scarce. Part of her daily routine is to walk a ways with buckets to purchase water for drinking, cooking, bathing and washing.
Peggy at the maize field where she now works to earn money for water and food.
Electricity came to her village in 2018 , but it is rarely turned on in her home because of the lack of money.
But, like most SEGA students, Peggy is resilient and still dreams of one day helping other orphans like herself to improve their quality of life. She also thinks about becoming a linguist or fashion designer and helping to empower girls and women in the world. We know that some day soon Peggy will achieve her dreams!
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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.