Tag Archives: AfricAid

Updates from Eli and Glory in Tanzania


In October, Val Martin of The Uplifting Project (and a great friend of STF!) traveled to Tanzania, and stopped in to say hello to some of the girls we sponsor there. She met with Eli and Glory, two girls in their first of two years at The Kisa Project, where they’re learning computer, leadership, and life skills. We sent along a photo album of our favorite places in NYC (which you can check out here!), and Val talked to them about their future plans. Doesn’t Eli look great in her I ❤ NY tee?

 

And guess what? Next week, we’re holding an event here in New York during Social Media Week — and no matter where you are, you can take part by helping us to sponsor Eli’s last year of school! Just watch for the #SMWMagic hashtag next Thursday, February 16th. For every time it’s used, The Think Cloud will donate $1 toward her sponsorship — and I know you guys can make it happen.

Have a message for Eli or Glory? Leave it in the comments and we’ll make sure it gets to her! Plus, check out more photos from Val’s trip below:

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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A Surprise for the Kisa Girls from STF in NYC!

Next week, Val Martin is headed to Tanzania to visit the Kisa Project, and she’s going to be bringing them a special surprise from She’s the First! Check out the cool photo album we made for them of all our favorite places in NYC. Think they’ll like it?

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Kisa Project Strengthens Its Classroom Leaders

If you are clicking through the pages of She’s the First, then chances are you have something in common with us. We keep girls’ education at the forefront of the work that we do as researchers and team players, but we also know that for a girl to be educated well, she must have a strong teacher at the head of the class.

I admire the Kisa Project for their continued attention to detail in that area. They are not just raising scholars and future leaders from the school desks, they are always looking for ways to mold and morph the leaders they already have at the front of the classroom.

This year, AfricAid invited 18 teachers from among the five Kisa partner schools in Arusha and Monduli, Tanzania, to participate in the Teaching in Action workshop. The T.I.A. workshop is a great way for teachers to get the experience they need to bring leadership skills and stimulation to the classroom.

We cannot wait to see how this workshop benefits the Kisa girls in the future!

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Kisa Scholars’ Surprise from STF & Arianna Huffington!

This past April, our blog was bursting with excitement over Arianna Huffington’s nationally publicized support of She’s the First.  Not only did The Huffington Post‘s Impact section declare Elizabeth David, a sponsored student in Tanzania, “Greatest Person of the Day,” but Ms. Huffington also sent us three signed copies of her autobiographic books to pass on to Elizabeth, Happiness, and Grace!  We are thrilled to announce that Ms. Huffington’s book On Becoming Fearless . . . in Love, Work, and Life has reached AfricAid’s Kisa Scholars! Ashley Shuyler of AfricAid sent us some photos to share of the students receiving their She’s the First yearbook and the copies of On Becoming Fearless. Have you read the book, too? We recommend it!

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7th Graders Start a She’s the First Chapter in Iowa!

Campus Coordinators Monica & Casey first skyped the students at VanMeter to spark their interest in She's the First!

She’s the First*{Campus} started with several highly motivated college students who wanted to help change the world. After several successful college chapters have been in place, a group of students at Van Meter is changing the game. They are now the first non-college chapter to be established, and I have had the privilege of working with them from the beginning.

The mind behind all of this, Shannon Miller, was preceded by her reputation before I met her, from winning a Shorty Award for social media. Shannon was incredibly enthusiastic about starting a chapter with a group of 7th grade girls she teaches, and I contacted her initially to help start this. At our first meeting, she assured me that these girls were something special, and they have already proven it.

Fellow Campus Coordinator Monica Townsend and I skyped with the girls before school one morning to hear their ideas for summer fundraising and help them choose a partner school from the STF directory. They have decided to sponsor a girl through the AfricAid Kisa Project with the hope that social media and technology will help them connect with the girl and share her story throughout their town in Van Meter, Iowa.

Within hours these girls were already well on their way to setting up fundraisers and giving talks to their school. I have no doubt that these girls will have great success with She’s the First, and already stand out as leaders for a new direction in STF chapters. Be sure to follow them on Twitter at @STF_vanmeter, on Facebook, and their brand-new blog: http://shesthefirstvanmeter.blogspot.com.

I’m proud to give you a little bit of the back story, but now you should read Shannon Miller’s point of view on her blog! Her students are not waiting.

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Digital Forefronts with the Kisa Project

She’s the First is definitely a tech-savvy organization; its engine’s powered by social media and digital storytelling. But we aren’t the only ones who have exploring this concept of digital storytelling.

One thing that I love about the Kisa Project in Tanzania, the school that I correspond and communicate with, is how passionate they are when it comes to sharing stories. Kisa even meaning “story” in Swahili, the girls in this program are no strangers to utilizing the media to connect with others across borders and boundaries.

Every month the Kisa Project updates its interactive site with digital content produced by the girls in the program. The short videos feature a different girl each time, giving the young woman a chance to tell her own story.

It is great way to get up close and personal with the girls we are sponsoring through She’s the First. And I can guarantee that you will only need five minutes to get swept up in the stories of these courageous and smart young women.

Stay updated with the digital stories by subscribing to the Kisa Project eNewsletters, a great opportunity to get news from the girls straight into your inbox.

Be sure to check out this month’s featured story by Jackline, a Kisa scholar at Arusha Secondary School.

 

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Support AfricAid & She’s the First with Just 1 Click

Want to make a difference, but you’re short on cash and time? You can help She’s the First and our Tanzania partner AfricAid raise money to support girls’ education with the click of your mouse!

For AfricAid, Africa Adventure Consultants (AAC), an Africa travel company, is pledging to donate $1 to AfricAid for every “Like” they receive on their Facebook page through Monday, April 11. AAC will donate up to $1,000. Get to AAC’s Facebook page now, especially if you dream of traveling to Africa someday. And, if you haven’t already, make sure you “Like” AfricAid, too.

On the Twitter front, @GlamourGoneGood, an organization connecting the glamour industry with charitable organizations, is pledging to donate $1 for every new follower received through April 12, up to $500! Even without that reward, @GlamourGoneGood is a great follow for news on cause marketing and corporate social responsibility (CSR) news, especially pertaining to the beauty industry.

Thanks for your support!

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AfricAid, our Tanzania Partner, Publishes a Children's Book!

cross-cultural children's book by our friends at AfricAid & the Kisa Project

It’s been a while since most of us have read a children’s book — but you never outgrow them, right? And we all know a young reader we could then gift the book to…so check out Somebody Like Me, the new book published by the 26-year-old Founder & Executive Director of AfricAid, Ashley Shuyler! She co-wrote it with Prisca Lesakire, a young Tanzanian woman who aspires to be a teacher, and teamed up with illustrator Lori Discoe.

She’s the First met Ashley this June, when she flew out to NYC (thanks to JetBlue’s generous donation) for our first-ever GIRLS WHO ROCK benefit concert. GIRLS WHO ROCK sponsored three girls — Elizabeth, Happiness, and Grace — in AfricAid’s tech-savvy Kisa Project sponsorship program in Tanzania. The girls receive leadership and computer training in addition to their academic studies, so we correspond regularly with them on email (and then post their messages to the blog so you can comment back!).

Somebody Like Me is based on the true story of Ashley and Priscila, two young women who grew up on different continents, in different cultures. When chance brought them together, they changed each other’s lives. (It was due to a trip to Tanzania at age 11 that Ashley founded AfricAid, a nonprofit organization with the mission of supporting girls’ education in Tanzania. Prisca was one of the organization’s first scholarship recipients, and the two girls became acquainted with each other through the letters they wrote back and forth for years. They soon realized through their long-distance interactions how much they shared on a human level, despite their cultural differences.)

The book is only $12.50, plus $2 for shipping, and a portion of the proceeds will be used to support AfricAid’s efforts to provide education to Tanzanian girls. Co-author Prisca Lesakire’s portion will help to support her efforts to become the first female teacher in her village. Add it to your holiday shopping list!

Visit the other partners in our global directory here. We are so proud to work with AfricAid to reach Tanzanian girls!

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Our Kisa Scholars in Tanzania: Their True Words & Stories

The newest notes from our Kisa Scholars, sponsored by the GIRLS WHO ROCK benefit concert, are in! Our three girls are back from vacation and have finished their exams. What are you curious to know as far as what it’s like being a teenage girl growing up in Tanzania? Review the girls’ personal stories on video, and please send them a note back. Write in the Comments section and, as always, we’ll send your words along. You’ll read their responses in the next batch of correspondence!

From Happiness Monyo:

helow everyone..am okay and i got home safely..the exams were fair and i hope to do my best…nothing so special has happened at home,i have found everyone fine and healthy i thank God,honey pots are all nature gifts found anywere…


From Elizabeth David:

Hi! hows everything,the exams were a bit tricky,a lot of essay questions but it wasnt that hard just needed a lot of thinking. Hey did I mention that i had a little cat called Hillary but sadly it died the day before I arrived home from school on 7sept.I really miss her a lot.And Tammy you havent told me your age and about your family also how did you start shes the first?Greetings to all and tell Cheryl that I appreciated her message!


From Grace Lyimo:

thanks all of you for your support i real appreciate you!to be honest the holiday is so sweet.my mummy told me to greet all of you so pleas send my greetings to all of you.i love you all!

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Save the Date: GIRLS WHO ROCK Benefit Concert, June 10th!

On the night of June 10, 2010 in New York City, a diverse group of female singers will make some music to make a change. We’re thrilled to debut the first big fundraiser for She’s the First — a benefit concert called GIRLS WHO ROCK!

A $20 or $50 VIP concert ticket will go toward sponsoring a girl in Tanzania via AfricAid, a brand-new member of the She’s the First network. AfricAid was founded by 25-year-old Ashley Shuyler of Colorado and funds girls’ schools as well as scholarships. Most recently, AfricAid piloted The Kisa Project, an initiative that gives a Tanzanian teen a secondary school scholarship and enrolls her in a two-year leadership training program. The girls take digital storytelling workshops and learn to share their lives with their sponsors through rich, vivid videos. Everyone who attends GIRLS WHO ROCK, which is during Internet Week NY, will be co-sponsors for a girl in The Kisa Project and be able to connect with her via shesthefirst.org throughout the year.

Venue and artists to be confirmed in the next 1-2 weeks. For now, save the date and tweet us, @GirlsWhoRockNY, and build up some buzz with #girlswhorock!

Save the date for GIRLS WHO ROCK, June 10th in NYC!

Save the date for GIRLS WHO ROCK, June 10th in NYC!

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Victoria Samora

Meet Victoria Samora, a 17-year-old at Orkeeswa Secondary School in AfricAid’s Kisa Project. She is from Lashaine Village in Tanzania, where she lives with her mother, a sister, and six brothers. She loves playing basketball and netball, and is eager to use her education to help her family and her community.

She loves being part of the Kisa Project because it has helped her to improve her confidence and gives her the chance to communicate with so many different people.

Check out Victoria’s digital story below to learn more about her in her own words!

 

 

 

If you want to leave Victoria a message, you can comment below. We’ll collect them and send them to her, and update here when she writes back!

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Sophia Paulo

Meet Sophia Paulo, a 17 year old at the Orkeeswa Secondary School in AfricAid’s Kisa Project. Sophia is from the village of Lashaine. She is one of the first girls from her village to get both a primary and secondary education.

She says that Kisa has helped her with public speaking and given her the opportunity to learn more about women. Sophia wants to become a politician so that she can help her village and work for women’s empowerment!

Sophia was sponsored in 2011 by the Tie-dye Cupcake Bake-off and is currently being sponsored in 2012 by the Voice Your Verse Campaign and Molly Page.

 
Check out Sophia’s Digital Story below to learn more about her in her own words!

 

Here is Sophia’s first note to us; would you like to send a note back to her?

“Hell my supporter my name Sophia Paulo i’m a student from Orkeeswa Sec School iam very happy to know.Iam so thankfull for your support and let god stand for your all help.Wish you nice work and give much great to all people from your community and your friend’s.HAVE FUN.”

 

If you want to leave Sophia a message, you can comment below. We’ll collect them and send them to her, and update here when she writes back!

 

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Anna Dennis

Meet Anna Dennis, a 19 year old in Form 3 at the Orkeeswa Secondary School in AfricAid’s Kisa Project. Anna is from the village of Monduli where she lives with her relatives and has two brothers and two sisters. She loves art and drawing.

Anna says that Kisa is improving her confidence, teaching her great communications skills and showing her the qualities it takes to be a good leader. She hopes to attend University in the future and study to be a lawyer!

Anna’s first year in the Kisa Project was sponsored by the 2011 Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off and her second year is sponsored by employees at Hearst Corporation.

Watch Anna’s Digital Story below to learn more about her, in her own words!

 

Here is Anna’s first note to us; do you have a message you would like to send back to her?

“Hey my spoonser ireally love you and ithink YOU to your love me thank you for take care of my life thanks a lot hopeful iwiil see you If GOD wish And my GOD Bleess you so much my name is Anna Dennis im form three student ilake arts subject and drawing And also ilake funny story please have a great job have a nice year”

If you want to leave Anna a message, you can comment below. We’ll collect them and send them to her, and update here when she writes back!

Last Updated: 3/12/2012

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