Mon, May 4, 2020 at 12:12 am GMT
Dear TSF sponsors,
This is Tunu, the Communications and Development Manager at Orkeeswa School.
I hope you are doing well and staying safe in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.
In case you didn't get our newsletter, Orkeeswa School has taken the following steps in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
* Closed the school on Monday, March 16 in anticipation that cases would soon be confirmed in Tanzania
* Ahead of that, we educated students and staff about the virus, social distancing, and other preventative measures they could start taking immediately
* Created and distributed Swahili informational materials to share with families and community members.
If you have any questions about Orkeeswa during this time, please let us know.
While this is a unique time globally, we are working hard to make sure we keep things on track with Orkeeswa School, and that includes keeping our Scholarship Program updated and in full operation.
The 11th grade is a turning point in a student's educational journey as they assume greater leadership roles both at school and within their home communities. Our students continue to be involved in clubs, sports, and activities at Orkeeswa School while diving into preparations for their 12th grade national exams, and balancing responsibilities at home. It is wonderful to see students rising to meet the new challenges associated with their expanding responsibilities!
We sat down with Husna to reflect on the ways she is engaging as a leader and putting her Orkeeswa education to action and here is what she said;
“Many girls are not involved in sports in the Maasai community, but I wanted to be different. I wanted to do something about girls playing sports and getting an education. I coached young girls in basketball in my community, and it was bittersweet because the parents of many young girls did not want them to come, but in the end I had a team and it was very good. I’m not just hoping to form a strong team, I aim to change the mindset of my community. I want them to see that girls are strong and can play sports. I am committed to advocate for these things.”
With so much enthusiasm to empower young girls, Husna added “Coaching through Grow The Game is really important to me. It helps me be strong and reminds me that I can solve challenges. If I tell something to a student in basketball and they do not understand, instead of getting frustrated and giving up, I look for other ways to explain it to them. The same thing is what I do in my life: if I fail to do something today, it does not mean that I should quit but rather, find another way to succeed.”
Regarding her community and efforts she has deployed to address challenges in her community, Husna shared remarkable initiatives that she is already on to. “In my community girls were dropping out of school because of pregnancies, so I tried to sit with some of them and see what was the issue. We discussed in detail about early marriages and I tried to educate them about it and especially, it’s impacts. We have come up with some solutions. I really try to be a good role model to the younger girls. I am not perfect, but I can try to support them.”
We are so proud of Husna’s leadership at Orkeeswa School and in her community. I have attached a photo of hers during a recent inter school football match where she shined as she always does.
Thank you for continuing to support Husna’s education. Your scholarship provides the experiences, resources and encouragement needed for her to reach her full potential.
With Gratitude,
Tunu and Orkeeswa School