The Class 7 girls’ education journey has taken a new step as they finish their national exams and are officially on summer break! In Tanzania, Class 7 is the end of primary school, and passing the exam is required to attend secondary school. These 15 future leaders also took the testing required for vocational education. In December, we will receive the exam scores. We will then determine the best educational path for each girl, considering their individual needs and career goals.

Balancing education and vocational training

At MGRC, we greatly value education. But we are also mindful that an educational path isn’t the right choice for everyone. Many of our girls arrive at MGRC without any schooling, and by the time they finish primary school they are already (or nearly) adults. For these girls, and others who are less academically inclined, vocational education is a great option to prepare for self-sufficiency and career support.

In Tanzania, having an education is not a guarantee of future success. While hiring social workers and other professionals to work at MGRC, we have learned that after graduating university it often took them years to find a job in their fields of study. Many never do. According to one study published in the Journel of International Development, only 5.7% of graduates each year find jobs in their desired sector. Our vision for the ecoVillage is to also provide jobs for many of our girls, especially those with disabilities. This will help bridge the digital divide and gender gap in workforce development.

A holistic approach to our girls’ education

With these factors in mind, we prepare each girl for a variety of future paths through a holistic approach to career education. We provide as much formal education as is possible, practical and age appropriate, building foundational skills. MGRC offers vocational training in various culinary and craft skills, including cooking, baking, sewing, and dairy production such as yogurt, butter and ice cream. We teach computer literacy, money management and other business skills to promote entrepreneurship. The girls spend time doing chores at the farm, while learning about agriculture and animal husbandry. Older girls work with the preschoolers, teaching future leaders English words and songs. These life skills are taught daily to girls who have completed their formal education and on weekends and school breaks to those still in school. Recently, we had professors from a local university come and speak to the girls about holistic careers.

Empowering girls for the future

In the coming months, we will be meeting with the Class 7 girls and making plans for their future. Each girl is individually assessed, taking into consideration their age, academic ability and special skills, including dreams for the future. Our goal is empowering women with the leadership skills and career readiness to tackle global challenges. Through mentorship, we aim to develop their critical thinking, computer skills, and project management abilities to succeed in any industry and beyond. Promoting diversity and inclusion, and gender equality are key priorities to maximize their social impact.

Looking ahead

As the new school year approaches, we are excited to see them take the next steps in their educational journeys. With the support of our dedicated staff and community, we are confident that they will achieve great things. They will become future leaders with global perspectives, equipped with leader readiness and product management skills to drive positive change.