On average over the past five years, we have sponsored 15 girls per year in Tanzania.

The following story is from one of our beneficiaries, highlighting her ambition and the obstacles that prevented her from completing secondary school before she was sponsored.

To protect her identity, the name of the girl has been changed.

 Aaleyah’s Story

“My family situation is very difficult because they don’t want to educate their children, especially their girls”

Aaleyah is a Maasai girl who comes from a polygamous household. Her mother was the last wife of three; however, she died in 2006 when Aaleyah was in primary school. Before her mother died, Aaleyah stayed with her grandmother so that she could go to school. Aaleyah’s father did not want his daughters to be educated, so he returned her to his home after she finished primary school to arrange a marriage for her. With the help of her brother and two aunts, she was able to leave her father’s home and go to a boarding school where she would be safe from early marriage.

Aaleyah is a hard-working student and performed well during her two years of boarding school. During this time, she never went to her father’s home in the holidays, until a message came one day that there had been a death in the family. Aaleyah asked to go home to see her family at this time, but the school staff were suspicious that the news of a death was just a ploy to get her home.

In conjunction with her father, the man who had been due to marry her kidnapped Aaleyah, during these days at home. Fortunately, Aaleyah managed to escape, Aaleyah was allowed to return to school and the CGEF stepped in to help ensure she was able to remain safe whilst completing her secondary schooling.

“I promise that I will study hard in all my subjects so that I can get the school average and achieve my aim in life. I am progressing well and my aim is to study to become a nurse and help my family”