Nashipai
My name is Nashipai. I’m 13 years old and I come from Eluai in Tanzania. After I finished primary school in August 2021, I passed the exam to go to secondary school. I did not know if I would get a chance to go to secondary school because my mom told me that my brother already had a husband waiting for me. My brother is in charge of family decision making. We follow whatever he decides. He was not happy that I passed the exam. I thought my life was over, like my sisters, who my brother sold into marriage for 10 cows.
Seven years ago, my mom moved me out of my home so the I could attend primary school but my brother was very upset. After six months he told my mother I could come home but that when I finished primary school there would be no more school for me. Last year the time had come for my brother to marry me off to an old guy that had already bought me with 5 cows. My brother had promised him that as soon I finished school, he could take me. I prayed for the whole year before this was to happen. One year ago, when I was in grade six, I asked my mother to talk with Nguvu, because I heard that girls in the Eluai primary school were getting scholarships. I told my mother that I was not going to be married off and if you force me, I will kill myself. Then my mother started thinking about what to do. One night, we left home at 2:00 a.m. and arrived at Nguvu’s home at 3:30 a.m. I was praying non-stop with Nguvu’s mother and my mother - we prayed for a long time. Nguvu’s mother told me to trust in God because He will find you a way to go to school, so let’s just pray.
My mother wanted me to go back home but I told her there was no home for me back there, that it was hell for me so I am never going back there until I finish school. So, she stayed with me until the next day. When I saw Nguvu. I almost passed out, I was so scared because it was my last hope. He asked me if I wanted to go to school and I wondered why he was asking me this question? Maybe it was a test? I was going crazy at that moment but I said yes. When he said I had gotten a sponsor, I was shocked. I was out of words and just screaming as loud as I could, praying to my Lord and my Savior. I got a Bible and I promised God at that moment that I would be with Him forever and this Bible would be my shield, my spear and my sword. Amen
Naini
And I struggled a lot during the school studies. I was even scoring a good division. I had never come with a poor division until even I joined the advanced education. I continued to be more better and studied better but for now in my family I can see like my father has changed his own attitude. Because you know now where I'm going, I'm going to the highest education -I'm going to succeed. So now even him, he changed a lot of attitude and those people they are no longer against (trying to get me to marry). I thank God up to here because my family - it has stayed in peace and I would like to express my thanks to my brother Isaya because he helped me. He supported me a lot since I was in school. I was just provided a lot of things and even my school needs. When I am here at home we are just come for seminar but I would like also to thank you sponsors because you helped us a lot. You sponsored us a lot up to this moment so what I would like to advise my young or others students or other Maasai girls is whenever you face another challenge, do not give up. Yes try yourself even to overcome those challenges and try yourself to consider where are you going and where are you from. But for you, I would like also to beg you so one day even us, as we are waiting the results at home - so that to continue with university. We are begging you even if you can provide us some help to study with the scholarship outside we would like - thank you a lot.
Tricia
Since meeting Isaya and Nguvu in 2019 in their boma (family home), I’ve been on an amazing journey. With Isaya living in Columbus, Ohio part of the year I have been able to become very involved with the program, particularly in facilitating communication between sponsors and girls. In traveling to Eluai, Tanzania twice a year during school holidays, I enjoy helping the girls write letters to their sponsors and organizing seminars that encourage them in educational and life challenges. The way that Isaya and Nguvu work together in this program is extraordinary. Not only do they raise funds for these girls but they watch over them to help them succeed. They organize a large gathering of the girls, parents and community to celebrate their accomplishments each December. I feel like an American Yeyo (Mama) for them - they are very shy initially, but seeing the increased confidence as the girls progress in school is amazing. Getting to know the older girls (like Ndini and Glory in the photo with me) is very special. They are beautiful young women inside and out. They have a maturity beyond their years and are eager to help the younger girls and their people.