Shooting For the Moon

This past week some pretty significant things happened in the world. One of them was that Sally Ride died. Many people remember her as the first American woman to fly into space. Sally was this woman, and a lot more. When she flew into space in 1983, Sally became a symbol to many girls and young women that it was possible to move beyond cultural barriers and do things that had never been done before. That's so important.

Some of these girls from Longido and Kimokouwa
are enrolled in Vocational Training courses.

Thirty years later, courageous young girls all over the world are still asking for their rights to be met, including the right to education. In many cultures and for many years, girls have been told their lives would be devoted to building the family home, having children, fetching water and firewood each day, cooking, and cleaning. What if a girl wants to do something different? It isn't easy and the obstacles are huge.

Not everyone has the privilege of helping young girls mount near insurmountable odds in pursuit of their dreams. I am one woman who does, and I am just one of many people.

Astronaut, Sally Ride, was the first American woman to fly
outer space in 1983 - breaking through barriers to achieve her dream.

Last week 11 girls from Longido and Kimokouwa returned to Vocational Training courses and 13 new girls began new Vocational Training programs. Taking this step has the potential to dramatically change their lives. The girls - Rahema, Mary, Martha, Tabitha, Rachel, Ester, Nimfa, Sereya, Upendo, Margreth, and many others, are stepping over the confines of old restrictive barriers and into very strange and new worlds beyond the security of their Maasai bomas and traditions. They are enrolled in many different courses of study including: marketing, tailoring, community development, early childhood education, food preparation, tour guide, police officer, bookkeeping, medical assistant, and agricultural college training. The girls may not think they are doing anything special, but they are trailblazers and role models today, just as Sally Ride was in 1983. The choice they are making today means their daughters will grow up in a world that is very different from their world today.

These 24 girls are courageous for another reason, too. By continuing in school they are saying very clearly "I WILL NOT BE A CHILD BRIDE AND A CHILD MOTHER." They will not be added to the 51 million other girls throughout the world who are adolescent brides and mothers. That is an astounding number that is larger than the entire population of my country, Canada.

To these girls I say, "You are pretty special. You are change makers. You are a very big news story in the world this week."

Education That Opens Doors to the Future

Nusra in the TEMBO Guesthouse kitchen window.

If you've ever stayed at the TEMBO Guesthouse in Longido, Tanzania, one of the memories you leave with is the smiling face of Nusra. And you are smiling, too, because you've been able to taste her delicious cooking in the middle of a small dusty town far away from any western influence. For international travellers visiting Africa for the first time, Nusra makes the transition so easy by preparing sumptuous dishes like spaghetti and meat sauce, guacamole, Chinese stir-frys, chocolate cake, home made bread, French fries, and the best pizza in the world. Really!

Nusra baking fresh white buns over a home made outdoor charcoal oven

When I first met Nusra in 2008 she was working as a "house girl" for a woman in Longido. She spoke very little and spent her days cleaning, doing laundry, running errands in town, and preparing meals. Those of us from Canada who knew Nusra always had the feeling that she understood a lot more English than she was letting on. When she started reading books we brought from Canada it was clear that Nusra wanted to know more.

Nusra was like so many young women I have met in Tanzania. She had loads of ability but she lacked the money to develop that ability through training. One day I said "You don't always want to be a house girl, do you Nusra? What is your dream?" Nusra shyly replied that she wanted to be a cook. But, her parents were dead and her family could not afford the cost of further education. The 30,000 TSH, or roughly $20.00 US, she earned each month was easily used just meeting basic needs.

Nusra's story is the story of millions of young girls in Africa. Without sponsorship they have no hope of realizing their dreams or of significantly bettering their lives. They are doomed to live as poor women, marrying young and raising children, locked in the same downward spiral their mothers and grandmothers were trapped in. It doesn't have to be this way, and it shouldn't be this way.

For most secondary school students, 
Vocational Training is their key to future independence

Vocational Training opens doors. Most of the girls that TEMBO sponsors who will be leaving Form 4 Secondary School this year have already asked TEMBO to sponsor them for Vocational Training. They want to enroll in a variety of programs: pre-school teacher training, tailoring, hotel management, agricultural studies, nursing, and military training. They will join young women currently enrolled in community development, tourism, police training, and other programs. When they graduate they will have the necessary skills to support themselves. Some will be supporting children, too, since child-mothers who must leave Secondary School also want to continue their education. Because they cannot return to the government school system Vocational Training is a wise choice.

Nusra at the Sinon College graduation ceremony, with Namaluk.

TEMBO was able to offer Nusra sponsorship at The Sinon College in Arusha where she studied Food Preparation. She graduated at the top of her class - no surprise to any of us - we knew she was very talented and hard working. As it happens, Nusra's graduation occurred just as the TEMBO Guesthouse was opening in January 2009. We needed a trained chef and Nusra needed a job. It was a win-win situation. Nusra has continued to develop her skills. Her pizza is famous throughout Longido - just ask any international NGO worker who spends time in town. Did I mention that the TGH does not have electricity or an oven? So how can Nusra cook pizza, you might wonder? You will have to visit Longido to find out her secret. You won't be sorry you did.

My dream is that one day TEMBO will be able to fund all requests we receive for Vocational Training. Every young woman deserves a chance to learn a skill that will enable her to be self supporting and live an independent life. Young women like Nusra stand as shining lights to girls in the community. What they are able to give back in exceptional service makes the initial investment in sponsorship so worthwhile.