Tag Archives: student letters

Partner Spotlight: Kenya Education Fund Shares a Special Letter

I’m back with my next quarterly research report, on one of our Africa partners, the Kenya Education Fund. You last read about what a great job the Kenya Education Fund (KEF) is doing in connecting their graduates through Facebook (as posted by Tammy Tibbetts here). The KEF has 471 students on four-year scholarships at more than 200 high schools across Kenya. 228 of these students are girls. She’s the First currently supports girls’ sponsorships at KEF with some of the proceeds that Asha Patel Designs donates from sales of our identity bracelet.

a photo from the fall weekend workshop, by Dominic Muasya

In September and October, the KEF held three weekend-long mentoring workshops for about 120 students from the Narok, Meru, and Isiolo regions of Kenya.  These workshops are designed to bring together KEF students from different schools so they learn study tips, build friendships, and attend lectures from notable Kenyan professionals.

Among the highlights at KEF this year is the amazing story of Fatuma Omar Ismael, a Somali Refugee who recently gained entry to one of Kenya’s best high schools. Fatuma, who attended primary school in the refugee camp, was the highest female performer on the school exit exam in Kenya’s entire Northeastern Province, and she is now a grade 10 student at the prestigious Kenya High School in Nairobi.  Without KEF sponsorship, she would have had no choice but continue her schooling in the refugee camps, with limited resources and tremendous domestic responsibility.

Click on to read a letter Fatuma wrote to her sponsors in the US (she has consented to its publication): Continue reading →

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We've Got Mail — From Tanzania!

Today we received a new letter from Elizabeth David, one of our Kisa Scholars sponsored by our GIRLS WHO ROCK benefit concert in June. In November, we had sent her photos of the She’s the First Soiree, our benefit birthday bash that sponsored a girl in India, and she loved them!

Elizabeth David

Elizabeth David

How’s everything? I bet that you are all doing fine. Thanks for the pictures [of the She's the First Soiree]. I loved them so much and so did my friends. It looks like you guys has so much fun together during the party. I think I saw Shontelle in a lot of pictures or am I wrong? You girls looked nice and cheerful. So who are the other girls? Was Cheryl there? Give her my regard and for Shontelle tell her that I love her song ‘Impossible’. Now we are preparing for our exams and in a few weeks from now we will go home for the holidays, so I am writing about communication, religion and education this month. By the way, the renovation went well to our dorms look amazing and new.
Till next time
Elizabeth!

Communication
In my daily activities I always do my bet to communicate with other in a polite way and with a polite language. Because even myself, I don’t like someone to speak to me in a commanding way. I always remember to say words like ‘please, thank you, excuse me and sorry’. Sometime I may get a bit angry because someone has said bad things maybe but I do my best not to reply harshly or with hurtful words. So, it’s better to just keep quiet and leave for that moment.

Religion
My religion which is Christianity has a big influence in my daily life and decisions. Because whatever I decide or do, I make sure that it’s not against the principles of my religion or the bible. I try my very best to act in proper manner and everytime I recognize that I have sinned, I ask God for forgiveness. Also when I have to make a decision I ask for God’s guidance and wisdom so that I will make a wise decision.

Education
Education is important in my life because through it I get a lot of knowledge about me, my environment and other people’s environments. Also it is the key to my present and future success. Because without it there won’t be doctors, engineers, teachers or lawyer. It’s through education that we can get understanding and a better life away ignorance. In my community, education is very important because it helps people to find ways of solving some problems arising in our community like environmental pollution, diseases, poverty and unemployment. Also education creates awareness to people.

Please leave a comment with a message back to Elizabeth. We’ll send it along!

Posted in AfricAid's Kisa Project | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Latest from our Kisa Scholars in Tanzania….

As a school assignment, the Kisa Scholars we sponsored through GIRLS WHO ROCK were asked to write to their sponsors about the clothing of people in Tanzania. Please take a moment to give them some feedback — they’re curious to learn about clothing culture in the US and elsewhere around the world, too.

Elizabeth David

Elizabeth David

From Elizabeth David:

Hello, Today I want to talk about clothing in Tanzania. I wear skirts because they make me feel confident and free, also makes me look decent and feminine. Also it shows that I come from a decent family which has morals. I also wear dresses, them make me look and feel that I am a big girl who can tackle any challenge and a confident, respectful girl.

Grace Lyimo

From Grace Lyimo:

Hi Tammy and She’s the First,
This month we are talking about clothing in Tanzania.
When someone wears clothes you can identify who is this person and where did she/he come from. For example, here in Tanzania we have many tribes and a good example of tribes is Maasai. Maasain have their own culture of wearing their own clothes so when you see someone dressed like them you will directly know this one is a Maasai and he or she is coming from Arusha where the Maasai are originated and also when someone wear Khanga you could know this is an African girl or woman and due to that you will know where she comes from (that is Africa).

Also, I am Chagga in tribe. My culture clothers are a Khanga. By wearing a Khanga I will be indentified as Chagga in tribe even though its real hard within Tanzania to recognize I am Chagga in tribe because Khanga are used by many tribe so someone could know that I am Chagga by observing the way I talk, my favorite food, etc. But, when I will go outside Tanzania, especially outside of Africa, its easy to recognize I come from Africa when I wear a Khanga.

Love Grace

Happiness Monyo

From Happiness Monyo:

I want to write about clothing to you today.
The way one dresses represents who you are and where you’re coming from due to the following reasons:

In African societies every dress code one has represents your tribe. (Ex) The Rubega is the identity of the Maasai. Bulk clothes are the identify of West Africa, etc. Also taking consideration of occupation. (Eg) In the army, soldiers have a uniform which represents them as soldiers. In the hospitals, the nurses and doctors have an identity of wearing white coats, etc. In schools, students have different uniforms that distinguish them from other people, other schools, etc.

It is important to dress in a respective manner because what you wear identifies you to the society you’re in and classifies you according to behavior.

I am Happiness, the clothes I mostly wear are uniforms. My school uniform represents me as a student of Arusha Secondary and as a prefect of the school government. My other clothes code is a khanga which represents me as a Tanzanian.

Now, we invite you to write them back and tell them a bit about your favorite outfits and what they mean to you. Go for it!

Posted in AfricAid's Kisa Project | Tagged | 2 Comments

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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Kisa Scholars Check In During Exam Week — Send Them Good Luck!

The next batch of correspondence from our Kisa Scholars, sponsored by the GIRLS WHO ROCK NY benefit concert, are in! Leave your comments and we’ll circle them back to the girls to read, and they’ll answer any questions you have.

Grace Lyimo

Thanks! To be honest you really make happy when I read your message. On first day of the coming month, we’re going to start our examination and after that we will be having an holly day [holiday] of about one and a half or two months. So on this week I will be very busy, final preparation before having my terminal examination. Hope you will be praying for us so that we will would do
something ” wondering” [wonderful].

To me you have been like sisters and I hope one day we will meet face to face. I can’t imagine how happy will I be to see you my dear sisters. I love you all! I will inform you much about how life goose [goes] and how are things at my home and my community [are], because it have been long time since I left my home and come to school. I hope to hear from you soon! Don’t forget to pray for us!!! All the best. – Grace Lyimo

Elizabeth David

Elizabeth David

Hi guys
How are you? I hope you are all well, am just a little busy preparing for my terminal exams which will start on Wednesday this week. Thanks a lot guys for sharing some different cultures that you have in the US. That thing about the accent, I hear it in the movies. [We told her that in the US, people from different states sometimes speak a little differently.] We finished working on the book before we left from the internship and it was such an amaizing experience.

Hey guess what! Next week on Thursday we are gonna start our one month holiday. I’m so excited about going home seeing my mother and sisters. I also miss my friends and home cooked food. I will also get a chance to [show] my mom your
pictures. I will be realy happy to see your video [about Peru]! My greetings to all. – Elizabeth David


And we heard from Happiness — she writes with more brevity than the other girls, but she is doing OK!

Happiness Monyo

Hellow there, well I would love to be an economist because I love economics. What I like most in Tanzania are the honey pots found like the national parks, reserves, water bodies and most of all the peaceful environment found in Tanzania…We are in the week of exams, so many people are busy..and we are going to close for the holidays..am so excited that I will see my family after 6months. – Happiness Monyo

[Editor's Note: Some light grammatical edits have been made to original messages for clarity.]

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Drop a Line to our Students Sponsored by GIRLS WHO ROCK NY!

We received two new messages from Elizabeth David and Grace Lyimo! We sent them all some photos from Peru, and they loved them! Their assignment was to write to us about their culture. Take a look, and leave some words of inspiration or follow-up questions about their life that we can email to them in Tanzania this week.

Elizabeth David

Elizabeth David

Hi,I was really surprised by the pictures of Peru its so beautiful and
wonderful. Today am gonna tell you about my culture. In my country every tribe has its
own culture.In my tribe which is Sukuma of Mwanza near lake Victoria there
are cultures like women are to bend when greeting or giving something to
elders or men, there are traditional dances in the harvesting seasons where
some men dance with big snakes although nowadays its not common.
Also there are foods like sweet potatoes and cassava. This is mainly in the
village areas so when we go to the village to visit our grandparents we face
those kind of things. Do you guys have any kind of culture in the US?
Pass my love to all and enjoy your trip. – Elizabeth David

Grace Lyimo

Thanks very much for caring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The things you do the always inspire me. Now, I feel like flying to know that
my sponsors have the same interest as me. I wish I could join you to Peru
but!!! real I cant wait for those pictures. I am sorry for being silent for a
while, in our school there is poor connectivity.

Today I would like to tell you about my culture!
I am chagga in tribe,I comes for Kilimanjaro one among the region of
Tanzania. At Kilimanjaro the main economic activity is farming and cultivation
of crops like maize, beans, banana and others. The main food is banana with
meat in our culture we call it “NDIZI”sure I really like this food. The
Kilimanjaro region is the place where there is cold condition,amount of
rainfall, fertile land due to volcanic soil which comes from Kilimanjaro
mountain the highest mountain in Africa. Real I am so proud to be born as a
chagga in tribe course I enjoy the condition of the highest mountain in
Africa and usually go there to meet with my relatives because my family and I
are both live at Dar es salaam.
I am real happy to here from you even though I was silent this shows me that
you truly love me as you young. Thank for your support,am waiting for you
pictures!

ooooh i was about to forget Friday the passed week was the day that we start
our kisa net and we were having 12 students. For us it was like a dream but
now we made it and on Friday we will have another class. this inspire me to
bileav that all our dream will come true one day

pass my greetings to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bye bye!!!!!! – Grace Lyimo

p.s. we didn’t hear from Happiness yet — we’ll find out why and let you know.

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Happy Birthday, Grace! {another update on our Tanzania girls!}

Lots to celebrate at She’s the First, including a special birthday today! July 28th is the birthday of Grace Lyimo in Tanzania, one of our Kisa Scholars supported by GIRLS WHO ROCK!

The Kisa Scholars are close to our heart not only because our first benefit concert, GIRLS WHO ROCK NY, sponsored them, but also because we maintain a direct line of communication with them through an online social network on kisaproject.org. Each girl created a video telling us her story in pictures, which we just posted to the blog this morning. Our thanks to those who commented about how inspired you felt after watching them (including singer Lenka!)

Today, July 28th, is Grace's birthday!

When the girls write us, we post their messages here so that you can leave questions and answer theirs in the comments. We cut & paste these comments in our replies to the girls — it means a lot and they recognize your names! So please join us in keeping this cross-cultural exchange and digital storytelling going. Here are the latest notes from Grace and Elizabeth. Your heart can’t help but smile reading them.

Birthday girl Grace writes:

I am thankful to hear from you, I hope to know much about you. For sure you’re my support, I feel like I am special to have you also I feel like I have already complete my dreams. Sure you inspire me to accomplish my dreams and to do more things than what I dream.
THANKS VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
About my birthday don’t worry, cause I have Happiness and Elizabeth and all our KISA family here by my side. I know they will help me on this since we are like one family.
I will try to write every day because we were facing Internet problems but now every thing is cool so don’t worry we will always communicate.
Please let me end here but tomorrow I will try to write more.
bye! enjoy your day!
love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elizabeth David intends to become an international businesswoman!

From Elizabeth David, we received:

Hi guys! I’m so happy that I have heard from you! How’s everything? I’m also happy to have read Katie’s message.
I have never seen something in 3D but I have heard about it on TV. It must be cool right? At the leadership conference something which I found incredible was launching a project. At first I thought that it was almost impossible but with God’s help we made it and launched our ‘teaching ict program’. It boosted up my confidence coz i had to stand in front of many guest to present to them about our project. It was really helpful coz being a leader needs alot of courage.
I know about facebook coz alot of my friends here at school also connect with their other friends through it.
We also learn about listening to others which is also helpful like you have said.In my community there problems like girls being treated inferior something which annoys me so much and which am determined to fight against. Also people have the habit of throwing trash almost anywhere although in town there are dustbins. But I think there aren’t enough dustbins so this is also a problem. I usually tell my friend not to throw bottles or papers just any place and if there’s no dustbin nearby it’s better if they just carry them and dump them at home. What are the problems in your society?and how do you deal with them?
Yes, I do believe that you are my global sisters,and we are united by the passion and courage to make some changes in our societies.
Pass my love to Katie, Cheryl, Chelsea and all the others.

[Editor's Note: Emails have been lightly edited for punctuation and spelling.]

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11th Grade Girls in India Have Questions for Us — Please Answer One!

Shreya with Shanti Bhavan students on the playground in India.

Shreya with Shanti Bhavan students on the playground in India.

Our guest blogger Shreya, volunteering at the Shanti Bhavan School (a She’s the First partner) in India, recently interviewed Lily, the 11th grade soccer star who told us about her family’s dire poverty. Now, the 11th grade girls have questions for you! Please answer one (or a few!) in the comments (noting the question number in your answer). Shreya will print the answers out for the girls to discuss. Keep in mind that some of these questions are a reflection of the circumstances the girls see every day in India: poverty, arranged marriage, discrimination by caste, abuse, etc. They want to know if this is the norm. Fortunately, it is not here in the US — so please tell them, and encourage them to dream, explore, discover, and change the world!

  1. What is an average school day schedule like?
  2. Do school children have uniforms?
  3. How are boarding schools run?
  4. Is there a caste system or any other basis of discrimination of people?
  5. Is there any such thing as ‘child labor’?
  6. What is the cheapest meal in the US?
  7. Which is the cheapest city in the US?
  8. What are some places worth visiting?
  9. Can you get any product you want in the US?
  10. What happens if a child gets beaten up?

More stories about life at Shanti Bhavan this summer can be read on Shreya’s own blog here.

Posted in Shanti Bhavan | Tagged | 7 Comments

Introducing Happiness: 2nd Student Sponsored by GIRLS WHO ROCK!

Happiness Myoto, sponsored in AfricAid's Kisa Project, through She's the First -- specifically GIRLS WHO ROCK! Happiness aspires to be an economist.

Happiness Monyo, sponsored in AfricAid's Kisa Project, through She's the First -- specifically GIRLS WHO ROCK! Happiness aspires to be an economist.

The profits of GIRLS WHO ROCK, our benefit concert on June 10th — in addition to proceeds from its raffle and $500+ raised on GiveForward.org — allowed us to triple our goal of sending a girl to school in Tanzania. We raised nearly $6,000, enough to enroll three girls in AfricAid’s Kisa Project, which is an Internet-infused sponsorship program, where girls also learn leadership and computer training. They will graduate from secondary school — something 95% of Tanzanian girls currently cannot afford. We’ve been emailing with our first student, Elizabeth David, for the past month, and many of you have interacted with her via comments on this blog.

Now, we begin our exchanges with Happiness! Please leave her comments and questions, and we’ll pass them along.

hello there,
Its me, hope your ok…I am very glad to have you as my sponsors. Your such an inspiring group and its nice to know what you do for your communities and others as well..gr8 work u guys! I hope as time goes by we’ll get to know more of each other…and I might tell you all about whats going on in my society, and any other stuffs you would like to know about…ok, let me tell you a little about me…
I am Happpiness as you all know, I live in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania..I live with my mum and brother so its just the three of us..its really fun, am a Christian, I love music, and am passionate about bringing positive changes in my society…thats all about me for now..hope you have a wonderful time and all the best in your daily duties.

[Editor's Note: Email has been edited for capitalization.]

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GIRLS WHO ROCK Helped Give Elizabeth the Freedom to Dream!

Elizabeth David says she's excited to be part of the Kisa Project because she can "learn how to be a good leader and how to connect with other people and society." She is sponsored by She's the First, from the GIRLS WHO ROCK concert!

Elizabeth David says she's excited to be part of the Kisa Project because she can "learn how to be a good leader and how to connect with other people and society." She is sponsored by She's the First, from the GIRLS WHO ROCK concert!

On this fantastic Fourth, we received emails from the three girls we sponsor in AfricAid‘s Kisa Project — all thanks to GIRLS WHO ROCK and those of you who donated, attended and performed for the cause! You already know of Elizabeth David, and this week, you will also meet Happiness and Grace, her schoolmates! The founder of AfricAid, Ashley Shuyler, who attended our concert thanks to a flight JetBlue donated, is now in Tanzania with the girls, and she told them all about GIRLS WHO ROCK. Check out Elizabeth’s reaction below, learn a little bit more about her family, and leave her some comments and questions!

Here’s wishing all girls the freedom to learn and pursue their dreams!

It’s so good to hear from you and actually I feel so excited every time I read your messages. I was told about the concert and that Kat DeLuna performed too. I like her a lot, she’s a great singer. I really have to say that I was surprised to see your photo, you girls are so beautiful,you really rock…
I love Disney movies and cartoons a lot so I’m so happy to hear that you like it too. I watched Cinderella, Snow White, Shrek and many others. In short, I love fairy tales. And I love Indian movies a lot.
I havent figured it out yet on what business I will start. I want to plan everything carefully. Sorry for the late reply. I had exams and the electricity was cut off.
Back to my family,we are three girls. My first sis is a high school teacher. She’s 26, her name is Lydia. The sec born is Happiness, but we just call her Happy. She’s 24 and works in an anti-corruption bureau.We are so close and
love each other so much. My mom is a teacher and my dad is a retired police officer, so I guess that’s all about my family.
Tell Chelsea and Cheryl that I said hi and they have beautiful names. Thank all the girls for their support.
Take care..

[Editor's Note: Message edited for spelling and formatting -- but all words are straight from Elizabeth's heart!]

P.S. Did you notice Elizabeth mentioned she is a Kat DeLuna fan?! We had no idea these girls were familiar with her music! Neither did Ashley. She emailed us from the computer lab to say, “When they looked at the pictures you have posted on your Kisa profile, they all went crazy because they know of Kat DeLuna and love her music. They could not BELIEVE that Kat had sung in their honor and for their scholarships, and they were literally shrieking with excitement.” Kat, you go global!! All the way to Tanzania!! :)

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New Message from Elizabeth David!

Elizabeth David sends her GIRLS WHO ROCK/She's the First sponsors a second email message.

Elizabeth David sends her GIRLS WHO ROCK/She's the First sponsors a second email message.

To all those who came to GIRLS WHO ROCK, as guests, donors or performers, or contributed online: Don’t forget Elizabeth David is one of the two Kisa Scholars that you sponsored, and she just sent us a new message. Don’t you love how she’s ready to “rock” the world as well?

Please leave a comment, as these email exchanges are part of cross-cultural lessons for us all. We will include your comments in our next reply to Elizabeth. Tell her about your job, your city, or your family — any tidbit!

Thanks a lot for your reply,i love movies so thanks.you really work hard dont you coz i can see that you have a busy schedule.I like eating sausage,fries,rice and mostly i love chocolates,i also love fruits and here in Tanzania there are many fruits.
Actually i do have a special goal and that is being an international business woman,in my country there are few business women but men are the ones which rock in the word of business here.I want to turn things upside down,i want to be an inspirational figure to other Tanzanian and african girls in general.
OK,I gotta go now but next time i will tell you about my family and can you send me your pictures?Bye for now..


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First Email Exchange with Our Kisa Scholar!

The best part of our day was receiving a surprise message from Elizabeth David, the first student whom She’s the First will be sponsoring with proceeds from next Thursday’s benefit concert GIRLS WHO ROCK. We’ll be able to support an additional scholar with each $1,000 we raise!

Elizabeth David, our Kisa Scholar, sent us a message today!

Elizabeth David, our Kisa Scholar, sent us a message today!

We first introduced you to Elizabeth on May 11th here on the blog. We’re so thrilled to continue this dialogue with Elizabeth throughout the year. If you are attending GIRLS WHO ROCK, or donate through our online giving page here, remember that you are her co-sponsor, and that this message is for you! Leave your comments for Elizabeth below and we will send them to her. And don’t forget to buy your ticket for June 10th’s GIRLS WHO ROCK concert if you are in New York City!

hallow,how are things?i am very happy that you are my sponsor.Can you tell about shes the first because i want to know more about it.You already know about my hobbies so maybe i should just tell you about my daily routine.I usually wake up at 5 pm then i go to pray after that i go to bath and then put on my uniform.After that i take breakfast and at 8am we start the lessons in class,at 1pm we finish classes.I will realy be happy to hear from you soon. — Elizabeth David

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Meet Our Kisa Scholar!

Proceeds from our June 10 benefit concert — GIRLS WHO ROCK, featuring incredible acts like Kat DeLuna, Shontelle, MoZella, Lenka, Cara Salimando, and Kelli Pyle — will sponsor a girl via AfricAid‘s Kisa Project!

Elizabeth David, Kisa Scholar in Tanzania -- will go to school with proceeds from GIRLS WHO ROCK!

Elizabeth David, Kisa Scholar in Tanzania, will go to school with proceeds from GIRLS WHO ROCK!

Ashley Shuyler, the 25-year-old founder of AfricAid, a member of the She’s the First network, just sent us photos of the Kisa Scholar that GIRLS WHO ROCK will support. This means that everyone who attends GIRLS WHO ROCK is co-sponsor of Elizabeth David! Isn’t she beautiful?! Her love of learning radiates from her smile.

The most exciting aspect of Elizabeth’s sponsorship — besides the fact that it’s made possible by a really fun concert! — is that she will be enrolled in a two-year leadership and computer training course, in addition to secondary school. She’ll learn how to shoot her own video and edit it, to digitally tell the story of her life and community, and send it to us online.

You’ll be reading lots about Elizabeth on the She’s the First blog over the course of the next year. Please feel free to leave her a greeting in the comments!

Be sure to buy your ticket to GIRLS WHO ROCK to become a co-sponsor…and who knows, maybe we can fundraise enough in one night of music to sponsor a second Kisa Scholar!

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