Secondary Education for Girls’ Advancement (SEGA) is a nonprofit organization based in Tanzania, established in 2007 to improve girls’ quality of life and provide the opportunities they need to grow, learn, and thrive. SEGA serves more than 2,500 girls through four key programs, which include a boarding secondary school for holistic education; scholarships for higher education; a business development fund and coaching; and an entrepreneurship training program for young women between the ages of 10 and 20. Taken together, these programs aim to empower girls and contribute to sustainable progress in Tanzania.
Girls in Tanzania face significant barriers to accessing quality education and other opportunities for personal development. Rates of child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence remain high, increasing the likelihood that girls will drop out of school. Girls also lack access to essential knowledge relating to sexual and reproductive health, heightening their risk for sexually transmitted diseases. According to USAID, adolescent girls and young women accounted for 80 percent of new HIV cases in Tanzania. These factors prevent girls from reaching their full potential, and SEGA aims to create a new reality for adolescent girls in Tanzania.
The Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund will support SEGA’s Modern Girl Program, which is designed to address the root causes of challenges girls face in rural and semi-urban communities. SEGA will provide safe spaces for girls through 10 community-based clubs, providing opportunities for girls to learn about topics such as sexual and reproductive health, financial literacy, entrepreneurial skills, and girls’ rights. Clubs will be led by peer mentors who have previously completed the program, enabling girls to learn from others who understand their lived experiences. This model of learning reflects SEGA’s theory of change—”Each One, Teach One”—which encourages girls to give back to their communities and uplift other girls.
Through this project, SEGA expects to reach 300 girls in the Morogoro, Iringa, and Dodoma regions of Tanzania. The organization hopes to provide girls with the skills they need to advocate for their rights and pursue their ambitions. Ultimately, SEGA envisions a future in which girls have the tools they need to overcome adversity, exercise their agency, and contribute to equitable communities in Tanzania. To learn more about SEGA, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
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