A became interested in Nurturing Minds, Inc. and the SEGA school from my neighbor in 2013. The stories of her visit to the first graduation were so heartwarming that I began to sponsor 2 students in their 3rd year of high school. I made a trip to Tanzania to see the students graduate in 2015 and to understand a bit more about the programs and the teachers and staff of SEGA. I was impressed and came home wanting to get more involved and to sponsor more students. The mission, compassion and dedication is something to experience. The students are so excited to be able to continue learning and share what they are learning with their families and communities. It is amazing to see the students growth in their academic studies, confidence and leadership! I began as an advisor and now am a board member and could not be prouder of what this mainly volunteer group of over 50 people, (only 2 paid employees) have accomplished in the 10 years since Nurturing Minds, Inc was established in the US and the SEGA Girls' School in Tanzania.
Everything about this school is honest and inspirational. I've been a sponsor of a girl for several years, and getting the news about her (and from her) and about the school's progress is always a high point. It is a case of vision turning into reality, and of a project that really changes lives. I strongly support the work being done by SEGA school. JAH Boston, MA
We have been a supporter of Nurturing Minds for the past 5 years. We have sponsored a student at the SEGA School in Tanzania each year, and hosted a visiting student for 6 weeks during the fall of 2015.
Nurturing Minds operates as the fundraising arm for the SEGA School in Morogoro, Tanzania. SEGA School offers a residential, holistic and rigorous education for poor and vulnerable girls in Tanzania. Without SEGA these girls would not be able to continue with their education past primary school. With SEGA, girls are prepared to pass the required national exams (96% pass well above national average), but equally importantly girls develop leadership skills through community outreach and service, business skills and opportunities, as well as participate in enrichment programs like sports (netball and football) and clubs (arts, dance, environment, and science).
The SEGA School is also committed to achieving self-sufficiency in its operations with the installation and use of solar power, an organic garden, poultry business, and guest house for visitors operated by students and staff.
In 2007 the SEGA School was 23-acres of land and a vision. In 2016, SEGA has accomplished the following:
The campus is complete educating approximately 200 vulnerable Tanzanian girls, in addition to sponsoring its past three graduating classes (2013, 2014 & 2015) for students who are continuing their education.
The 30-acre campus has 22 solar-powered buildings, including a computer suite.
The school has a renewable water supply that includes a well and rainwater capture system.
SEGA has a strong team comprised of 42 administrators, teaching staff, volunteers and support staff.
SEGA’s current school-run businesses comprised of a poultry feed production and an on-campus guest house is gaining momentum in generating income and teaching students hand-on business experience that includes the hotel/hospitality industry.
I have been involved with Nurturing Minds for the past ten years as a donor and volunteer both here in the United States and at the Sega school they support in Tanzania. The leadership of this organization is consistently committed to its mission, and works in creative and inspiring ways to reach their goals of supporting the education and empowerment of young women in Tanzania. While serving as a teacher of English at the Sega school, I was reminded constantly of the meaningful work that Nurturing Minds does by own students who frequently quoted the beloved Nelson Mandela: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." This organization makes the "weapon" of education widely available to those it supports and enables them to combat the harsh social and economic realities of this world.
Nurturing Minds is an amazing organization comprised of intelligent, caring and creative people dedicating time, money and love to a group of wonderful girls at the Sega School in Tanzania.
What an honor to be part of Nurturing Minds! It opens new worlds to girls from profoundly disadvantaged backgrounds, teaching them not just academics but also critical thinking, leadership, and ways to have power in their lives.
I am very impressed with the mission of this non-profit, the volunteers and the results the students are achieving academically and also in life skills, leadership and health education. They are preparing the students and now the community (thru an outreach) to improve themselves.
I just returned from visiting the SEGA School snd could not be prouder. Great yo see it first hsnd!
I am a teacher at a public elementary school in Westport, CT. We have sponsored two students for the past three years and have had the opportunity to meet 4 SEGA students and the chair of the board.
We also share regular correspondence with our sponsored students. This has been an incredibly rich and valuable experience for our student body.
Very appreciative of the chance for my students to explore the world and education through Nurturing Minds and SEGA!
Nurturing Minds is a wonderful organization with smart, motivated supporters who are passionate about the mission of providing poor and vulnerable Tanzanian girls with quality education, life skills, and leadership and entrepreneurship training that will help them to be successful adults and contribute positively to their communities.
The work Nurturing Minds does in Tanzania is truly life changing. The girls who attend Sega School are given an academic education as well as life skills, business skills, and a community of support and nurturance. Girls leave the school confident and prepared for the next step. In addition they return to their communities and share their knowledge and skills. The program has far reaching and profound effects.
I became acquainted with Nurturing Minds about two years ago due to a mutual friend who introduced me to Tracey Dolan, sister of Polly Dolan, founder of the SEGA School in Tanzania. I lived in Tanzania for five years and was very aware of the need for the education of young women. The more I learned about SEGA, the more impressed I was. This year I recruited a group of friends to join me in funding a scholarship for a SEGA student, and we have just started our sponsorship. We are all excited to learn more about our student and to follow her progress. I encourage anyone interested in helping a young woman succeed to contact nurturingmindsinafrica.org to learn more about the school.
This past summer I discovered Nurturing Minds and the SEGA Girls School through my internship at Penn State. I was so moved and excited by co-founder, Tracey Dolan's, presentation on the school, that I became immediately involved. I led a fundraising effort with the help of my intern cohort to sponsor a SEGA student named Grace! By the end of the summer, we had raised enough money to support Grace for the remainder of her time at SEGA, and I had become even more involved as a social media assistant.
The opportunities that SEGA is able to provide these girls are truly amazing and could only be done through passionate and driven volunteers/staff and altruistic, generous donors. I can't wait to see how much the organization will inevitably grow due to its organization, ethical and responsible approach, and commitment to providing a well-rounded education for the girls of Tanzania!
In October/November (3 weeks) of 2015 I worked as a volunteer English immersion teacher at the SEGA school in Morogoro, Tanzania. That experience was one of the most memorable of my life. SEGA is providing an exceptional opportunity for local girls to get an excellent education free of charge. The boarding school serves as a "learning community" for the girls as they share experiences and needs in a safe and controlled environment. The teaching staff was well-qualified and friendly; we met with them almost daily during our stay. Additionally, the administrative was top-notch; always trying to improve the lives of the girls through education. Very nice housing was provided for us on the campus, as well as all meals and snacks. Several Masaai tribesmen provided security, along with 5 dogs.
The girls were reluctant to speak at first, but as we teachers got to know them more each day, they soon opened up and were speaking English freely, without worrying too much about making mistakes. We had many great lessons planned and sometimes he girls would play music and dance for us. We taught them many popular American songs and sang with them each morning. All in all, I think the SEGA school provides a unique setting for young ladies to learn all the information they must know to pass their very difficult exams. I eagerly look forward to volunteering there again in 2017.
I wanted to get involved with a nonprofit where I felt I could really make a difference in someone's life. Through a friend I became involved in Nurturing Minds. I sponsored a student for four years and went to her graduation in Tanzania. It was an amazing experience. After seeing the school and meeting the girls, I am even more committed. The administrators and teachers are passionate about what they do. It is evident that many girls' lives have been changed by attending the SEGA school.
I volunteered at the SEGA school through Nurturing Minds and had an incredible time helping underprivileged girls in Tanzania become more fluent in English. The people I worked with at Nurturing Minds were very supportive, organized, and passionate!
I have limited time to volunteer and so choose my non-profit boards very carefully. But after visiting the SEGA school this past year, I was honored to be asked and wholeheartedly agreed to be on the board. It's a very special school that helps vulnerable girls who would have few options otherwise and profoundly changes the trajectory of their lives. I have run non-profits myself and can say that this one is incredibly well run.
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I got to know Nurturing Minds about a year ago and have been very impressed with the work they do. They are committed to improving the lives of girls in Africa and have spent much time and energy on developing a program to do that in the most effective way. As someone who has run a non-profit, I am keenly aware of the need for good structure, oversight and management as well as a passion for the mission. Nurturing Minds has all of that which is way I recently agreed to be an advisor to the organization and why I continue to be a donor.
I spent three weeks at Sega as a volunteer. The place is extraordinary. The girls are highly-motivated, polite, funny, curious, generous, incredibly hard-working and smart. Equipment, furniture and buildings are simple (Spartan, by American standards) and solid. Teachers and administrators are completely dedicated to the students and the success of the school. This is a place where girls grow, blossom and find opportunity where there had been little or none.
Small and mighty is how I would describe Nurturing Minds. As a Board member, I feel deeply connected to our mission and the staff does an amazing job at keeping us engaged and inspiring us to do more to support our work in Tanzania. It is a privilege to serve on this Board, and immensely rewarding to see how our girls and our school are thriving.
We learned about Nurturing Minds through a neighbor and have been hooked ever since. We have attended several fund-raisers, seen videos, received newsletters and have contributed as often as we could. The work the school is doing to empower at-risk Tanzanian girls is unparalleled. Women are a key part of Africa's future progress and are an under-used resource. Through its work to educate young Tanzanian girls that would have no other chance, Nurturing Minds is assisting mightily in the progress of the entire continent.
By engaging US donors with the stories of girls in Tanzania, Nurturing Minds continues to promote education for girls world wide. Through the experiences of the students Nurturing Minds supports, I've learned just what secondary education means in Africa and in the developing world. It is also clear the Nurturing Minds values small donors, and that small donations make a difference in the life of a girl.
