On November 21, 2019, Kit Merriman died of metastatic breast cancer. In her honor, loving friends and family donated to a “Kit Merriman Scholarship Fund for Girls.” The combined donations of nearly $60,000 were 100% applied towards the sponsorship of 12 extremely talented yet impoverished and at-risk teenage girls in Tanzania for our Unite Scholars & Mentorship Program. (Click HERE to read the first blog post introducing these “Kit Girls.”) Today I am thrilled to report that all 12 of these talented and hard-working young women have successfully graduated from higher secondary school — A Levels, Form 5 & Form 6 — or the rough equivalent of high school in the United States. This huge accomplishment can be claimed by just ~3% of all Tanzanian students. Each of these young women is now — thanks to every generous donor who supported the Kit Merriman Scholarship Fund — well on her way towards achieving independence and fulfilling her dreams.
Reflections from a few of the Kit Girls
Maria John graduated from Mtwara Girls Secondary School where she majored in Economics, Geography & Mathematics. Maria scored a DIVISION 1 on her Form 6 National Leaving Exam and is currently interning at the Marangu School of Tourism and Vocational Training while applying to universities across the continent. Unite funded the building of a new house for Maria John and her family after their homestead disintegrated during the rains. Click HERE to watch a short video of the construction of Maria John’s new house.
Witness graduated from Tabora Girls Secondary School where she majored in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics. Witness scored a DIVISION 1 on her Form 6 National Leaving Exams and is currently interning at a library, tutoring students, and helping at her mother’s new restaurant (which was started with a Unite interest-free Warrior for Change loan) while also applying to universities across Tanzania.
Amina graduated from Mringa High School where she majored in Economics, Commerce & Accounting. Amina scored a DIVISION 1 on her Form 6 National Leaving Exam and is currently interning part-time as an accountant at a retail store in Dar es Salaam while applying to universities across the country.
THE TOTAL ALL-INCLUSIVE* COST OF SPONSORING THESE 12 KIT GIRLS FOR TWO YEARS IS ~$75,000, OR ABOUT $3,000 PER SCHOLAR PER YEAR.
This spring we welcomed 13 new Unite Scholars into the program and invite your continued support. Checks can be sent to Unite the World with Africa Foundation, 74 Leighton Road, Wellesley, MA 02482 or donations can be made here, online.
Meeting 10 of our 12 Kit Girls for the first time, January 2020
With the 12 Kit Girl at our Unite Scholar graduation ceremony, July 2022.
Where does the money go?
Elements of the two-year sponsorship package for these 12 Kit Girls (and their 17 additional Unite Scholar classmates) include:
School fees & all school-related expenses including tuition fees, books, tutoring support, transportation and personal items - soap, shampoo, sanitary items, etc., sheets, mattresses, mosquito netting, trunks and padlocks, buckets and cleaning tools, and more.
Medical care for all Unite Scholars and for family members, as needed and as possible.
Creation of Unite Clubs at the Scholars’ schools. The Unite Club program includes weekly lessons covering Unite’s "Soft Skills of Professionalism” curriculum, the Unite Passion Project video-career-discovery program, the building and maintenance of Unite-sponsored organic gardens, and extensive tree planting campaigns; volunteer opportunities, and more.
Intensive trainings with Unite Mentors and international guest speakers over school holidays.
Application assistance, fees, and support for participation in international workshops including the Yale Young African Leaders Summit in 2021, the Yale Young African Scholars Online Training Program in 2022, and a STEM Bootcamp with PROJEKT INSPIRE.
Grants to launch small businesses. Each Unite Scholar received a grant during the time of COVID-19 to launch a small business. Businesses included small bakeries; sewing & tailoring services; small shops & restaurants; rabbit, chicken, and avocado farming; and others.
Unite Warrior For Change interest-free loans to further grow and develop their businesses.
Participation in the Unite Youth Ambassador Program. Click HERE to read the blog post introducing the program in 2020.
Participation in the Unite Blessing Campaign. Click HERE to read a blog post about the Blessing campaign.
A final Unite Scholar graduation ceremony and three-day training in July 2022. Click HERE to see the scholars dancing at the ceremony.
Paid internships at Unite Food Program Headquarters in Dar es Salaam and at Unite Food Program Outpost in Western Tanzania. Additionally, many of our graduates are now working in paid internships in the fields of accounting, teaching, sales and marketing, retail shop management, and farming.
University application support. Now is the time to apply for university loans and scholarships in Tanzania. Our Unite Mentors continue to work closely with our graduates assisting them with their applications (essay writing, CV creation, letters of recommendation, etc.).
Unite knows that our scholars’ success is directly linked to their family’s stability. To this end, Unite provides extensive support to their families. For these Kit Girl families, the support we have provided over the past two years includes:
Bicycles for safe and convenient transport
Home solar panels for power
COVID-19 relief items including sanitizers, masks, and food relief
Home renovations, beds, furniture, kitchen supplies, food, and school fees for all siblings for a scholar who lost her mother
Food gifts for Christmas, Ramadan, Mother’s Day, Easter, and birthdays.
Khadija graduated from Mringa High School where she majored in Economics, Commerce & Accounting. Khadija scored a DIVISION 1 on her Form 6 National Leaving Exam and is currently working full-time in the accounting department of a retail store while applying to universities across Tanzania.
Zainabu — and her sister Zaituni — graduated from Masasi Girls Secondary School where they both majored in Chemistry, Biology & Geography. The girls both participated in the Yale Young African Scholars Online Training Program in 2021 and scored DIVISION 2 on their Form 6 National Leaving Exams. Zainabu and Zaituni are now interning at the Marangu School of Tourism and Vocational Training while applying to universities across the continent.
Elina graduated from Masasi Girls Secondary School where she majored in Physics, Geography & Mathematics. Elina has participated in two Yale University programs for African Scholars as well as a STEM boot camp. Elina scored DIVISION 2 on her Form 6 National Leaving Exam and is currently applying to universities across the continent.
Unite Scholar 2022 graduates with Unite teammates and Anne, David & Katharine Wells at the Unite Scholars’ graduation ceremony in Dar es Salaam, July 2, 2022.
THANK YOU!
*All items noted above include Unite mentor and program director support.