Launched in 2014, our Back-to-School Program’s School Supplies project has been a cornerstone initiative aimed at equipping both students and educators in marginalized communities with essential educational materials. Initially, the project’s primary goal was to ensure that these supplies were distributed at the onset of the academic year, fostering an environment conducive to learning. Since its inception, the project has had a significant impact, reaching 9,541 students and contributing to their academic success.
The Foundation is committed to fostering an environment that supports the educational aspirations of girls and young women who have had to leave school for various reasons. This commitment is embodied in our School Re-entry Support Project, a key Back to School program component.
The Re-Entry Project is dedicated to identifying and enrolling adolescent girls and young women who have discontinued their education due to challenges such as teenage pregnancies, child marriage, and financial constraints. Our goal is to facilitate their return to their studies. By recruiting these individuals, we aim to sustain their presence within formal and informal educational frameworks. This is achieved through a series of strategic interventions, including awareness-raising activities, the provision of life skills, and career guidance services tailored to the needs of these girls.
This initiative gained momentum following the government’s decision in 2022 to lift the ban on re-entry, thereby granting out-of-school girls and young women the opportunity to resume and complete their education.
To date, the project has positively influenced 106 adolescent girls and young women across ten informal education centres, involved 65 teachers, and engaged 9 government officials from ten SEQUIP centres in the Dar es Salaam Region. The FMF’s approach to realizing this intervention involves proactive engagement with parents, teachers, education officers, and the girls. We employ awareness campaigns, conduct situational analyses, and facilitate pre-enrollment career sessions to empower these young women.
Looking ahead, the FMF is dedicated to mobilizing school dropouts to rejoin the educational system, reinforcing our unwavering commitment to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to access education.