We believe that every child has the potential for excellence. 

Education remains a challenge in Southern Tanzania, particularly for girls. While education itself may be free, there are a number of associated costs which families often cannot afford. Many schools, especially in rural areas, are located some distance from children’s homes creating the extra cost of travel. 

Most girls walk long distances to school which can lead to intimate friendships with men, especially motorcycle riders who pretend to assist them with money to cover costs of travel, lunch or lifts to schools. Consequently, early pregnancies are a significant factor leading to girls leaving secondary schools. All pregnant schoolgirls are expelled as the pregnancy is considered to be the girl’s fault.

Social norms work against girls’ secondary education: it is always the girls who remain at home and fetch water, collect firewood and perform other domestic duties. This situation reinforces gender stereotypes against girls as most parents in rural villages tend to think that lack of education for girls is not a major problem as they become caregivers who work to supplement household incomes.