Part One: Volunteering at SEGA Awakened us to the Wonders of Africa
At SEGA, fluency in English is essential for academic success, yet most students arrive speaking local tribal languages and Kiswahili, Tanzania’s national language. Transitioning to secondary school, where all subjects are taught in English, presents a significant challenge. The English Fluency Program (EFP) bridges this gap; volunteers are role models and storytellers. By fostering confidence, motivation, and a love for learning, volunteers help SEGA students thrive academically and personally, transforming their futures.
Lea and Jim Watson, 2024 EFP volunteers and the authors of this blog, shared their life-changing experiences in a two-part series. Part 1 is where they highlight their impactful journey, helping students gain confidence in English and engaging in the vibrant SEGA community.
Are you ready to make a difference in 2025? Contact Myranda at myranda@nurturingmindsinafrica.org for more information about volunteering with the English Fluency Program.
Introduction
The loud pre-dawn whistling of the African Laughing Dove woke us. It sounded as if he was right in the courtyard of the Visitors House where we stayed at the SEGA Girls’ School in Tanzania. The hum of the ceiling fan whirred with white noise. Jim and I, each in beds draped with mosquito netting, slept well despite the heat. In the far distance, we heard chanting. All the students ran and chanted on the soccer pitch. Over two hundred female voices filled the air before sunrise daily. Many East African birds joined the morning symphony by chattering, calling, and singing. What a great way for Americans to awaken what an African day might bring. This was our first visit to Africa. We did not know what to expect.
Our friend, Clarke, on the Board of Nurturing Minds, invited us to teach in the English Fluency Program (EFP). Volunteering in Tanzania offered us an incredible opportunity to be part of a program that educates and empowers girls. Research shows that educating women – helping them reach their full potential -- breaks the cycle of poverty and creates posterity. SEGA stands for “Secondary Education for Girls’ Advancement,” which Nurturing Minds supports. SEGA’s mission is to educate and equip bright Tanzanian girls with academic, leadership, and business skills to unleash their individual talents and reach their full potential. With a particular emphasis on vulnerable girls, SEGA provides full scholarships for at least 80% of its student body. The slogan: “Educate a girl. Change the world.” manifests itself in the spirit of this school.
The English Fluency Program
When the sixty-five youngest girls are admitted for January, forty need help with English and arrive early in September for the English Fluency Program (EFP). The girls come from communities all over Tanzania and often speak Swahili, another tribal language. All Tanzanian secondary schools teach in English. In Tanzania, many girls do not continue to secondary school. In Africa, girls get swallowed up in the tradition of early marriage, having children young, and thus remaining in poverty. SEGA offers a haven for the accepted girls, who, as we hear them say, “like to study hard” and “pass exams.” The Pre-Form one students range from 12 to 16 years old and are adjusting to life at a boarding school. They start schooling with Mr.Abdallah, SEGA’s English Fluency Teacher, with about forty in the classroom.
Twenty volunteers from different backgrounds signed up to teach for two weeks in October. This year, six came from the Boston area, two from Nova Scotia, two from Australia, and a few from California and Washington, D.C. We all came to help make learning English fun for the students and build their confidence as they learn. Every day, two or three volunteers taught their assigned small groups. Mr. Abdallah divided the students into Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced groups according to their English speaking abilities. Jim and I taught an Intermediate group. We met the six smiling students every morning and followed a pre-designed EFP curriculum. Part of the curriculum is to ask questions about the girls’ families, and what we learned was that four of the girls had already suffered the loss of one parent. Over the two weeks that we spent with them, we kept this in mind as we sensed their sadness.
At the first school assembly, we met Madam Elly, SEGA’s Headmistress, and Madam Laina, the Director. These two strong and smart women emulate and inspire confidence for the girls. The student body enthusiastically sang and danced the “SEGA Welcome Song.” Looking back on that vibrant assembly, we had no idea how our time helping this school would enhance our own lives. Working with the dedicated staff and incredible students enriched our lives in ways that are hard to describe with words. Right away, we realized it was a privilege to volunteer here. SEGA is a unique environment that stimulates students to achieve their best, live with courage, and aim high. We noticed how SEGA focuses on developing character, confidence, and kindness. Being respectful and caring is evident in every interaction on campus. It was easy to adjust to this environment, even though we were far from home.
Interested in becoming a student scholarship supporter? Supporting a scholarship for a student at the SEGA Girls' School can help get a girl out of poverty, reduce teen pregnancy and early marriage, and foster a cross-cultural exchange. You will support a student throughout her education and both of you will learn about life in a different part of the world. Become a Student Scholarship Supporter here.