Laura (right) with SEGA Director Laina (center) and NM and SEGA Co-Founder Polly (left)

After two and a half years away I was finally able to get back to SEGA where so much has changed and yet in so many ways things have also remained the same. Nurturing Minds and SEGA co-founder, Polly Dolan, joined me along with several volunteers, including two young women who led clubs supporting SEGA while in high school and my niece!

The SEGA community, its impact and reach have all grown tremendously now reaching over 2,000 students, community members and graduates throughout the country. SEGA is also under new leadership with Laina Mwandaloma at the helm as director and several new department heads and teaching staff as well. Yet there were so many constants from the wonderful chemistry teacher Mr. Sanga, to the dynamic team of women running the Education for Life Program, to the delightful Maasai guards who now wear their traditional clothing during the day but change into formal uniforms at night which they say they like as the uniforms are warmer on cooler evenings.

Laura (right) with SEGA graduate Jesca (center) and Polly (left)

The biggest constant was of course the wonderful, bright, enthusiastic students who surrounded me to ask questions, hear information on their overseas friends, jostle to get into every photo possible and share their biggest aspirations. Petite Magreth, who you have heard from twice now featured in our blog posts, wished only to talk about her passion to be a journalist and to convey the many challenges girls face in her society today. It seemed her heart might break on the spot if she could not find ways to publish her thoughts and desires. She will now be working to reinstate the SEGA newsletter with some of her friends as another avenue to share her important voice.

Being unable to travel to SEGA for so long meant I packed a lot into this trip which included working with a Tanzanian videographer to meet with some of our graduates to capture their stories. This brought us to the University of Dar es Salaam, (my first visit), which was an impressive institution with beautiful, new infrastructure and a bustling community of students and professors. SEGA graduate Jesca, who is about to graduate with a degree in psychology, toured us around the campus and shared how she has changed and grown as a university student and how much she wishes to give back after the support she has been given by NM and SEGA. We also visited with graduates Edina, a clinician and , Anna, who is working as an office manager for our partner institution SAWA. Witnessing all of the possible pathways and different journeys our graduates have taken was beyond fulfilling and underscored for me the meaning of “It takes a Village”. Every teacher, nurse, cook, guard, counselor, parent and supporter plays a significant role in supporting and helping to shape the future and destiny of each child whose life we are fortunate enough to touch. It is not often an easy road and may take many detours along the way but all of the graduates and students I spoke with talked about how supportive their teachers and counselors were at SEGA and what an impact that has had on their lives.

I had the opportunity to meet with all 66 staff members who introduced themselves, asked questions and shared ideas for programs that would enrich the girls’ lives including a proposed music instruction program and the need for a biology lab, which we hope to raise the funds for in the coming year. The dedication of the teachers and staff to their jobs and the mission of NM and SEGA was evident.

One of the many delightful highlights of our trip was visiting one of the 26 clubs that the Modern Girl Program runs. The club was celebrating the “Day of the African Child” which included powerful skits and much joyous singing in celebration of a day truly meant for them. Modern Girl clubs meet each weekend and cover so many important topics including reproductive health, puberty and menstruation, girls’ rights, HIV, financial literacy, product development and entrepreneurship. The mentors of the clubs (half SEGA graduates and half Modern Girl Club graduates) receive weekly training and feedback and are impressive local leaders contending with innumerable challenges present in daily life including teen pregnancy and early marriage.

Last but certainly not least, I had the opportunity to meet with the SEGA board of directors, many of whom have been dedicated volunteers since the very beginning 14 years ago. I often say at NM I am blessed with the best board of directors in the world. SEGA is equally blessed with talented, passionate, dedicated leadership and we are so fortunate to be partnering with them.

I am filled with gratitude for the tremendous support each of you have provided making it possible to have a positive impact on so many girls’ lives.

Laura DeDominicis
Executive Director, Nurturing Minds

It Takes a Village

More Info

Stay Connected