Girls First Initiative (GFI) is an organization dedicated to ending the cycle of poverty by funding the economic empowerment, health care, and education of young women and girls in marginalized communities in Tanzania. Since it was founded, GFI has supported more than 10,000 girls with educational support, 16,000 girls with menstrual health aid, and 2,000 young women with entrepreneurial training.
In Tanzania, girls are often excluded from leadership, economic possibilities, and civic engagement. The adolescent pregnancy rate surpasses 110 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19, and nearly one in four girls gets married before turning 18. In Dar es Salaam, the country’s largest city, adolescent girls are particularly at risk due to the city’s rapid urbanization, high youth unemployment rate, developing informal settlements, and greater exposure to gender-based violence. Many girls do not have access to organized activities that intentionally foster self-awareness, leadership, and confidence.
With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, GFI will implement its Kiongozi Lab Project, which will establish school-based leadership clubs in four secondary schools. Through weekly club sessions, girls will build confidence, self-awareness, and communication skills using interactive methods such as discussions, role-plays, debates, presentations, and goal-setting exercises. The project will incorporate mentorship and parental involvement to ensure that empowerment lasts beyond the project period, establishing a long-lasting culture of female leadership throughout school communities.
The project will directly engage 200 teenage girls and will indirectly engage 400 parents, teachers, and community members. Kiongozi Lab establishes safe spaces where girls can find their voice and their vision for their lives. It also creates leadership roles through school-based clubs, peer mentorship, real-world leadership challenges, and family involvement. GFI hopes that these girls will develop into professionals, community leaders, and decision-makers in the future, helping to promote more inclusive growth in Dar es Salaam and beyond.
To learn more about GFI, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
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