STUDENTS IN THE 3RD COURSE AT THE SEAMSTRESS SCHOOL IN ARUSHA

Pupil Beatrice

  • Origin: Arusha, Oldonyo Sambu
  • Year of birth: 2006
  • Education: Secondary school (graduated 2024)
  • Tribe: Mchaga

Beatrice lives with her parents and her five siblings. After graduating from secondary school, she dreamed of becoming a teacher so she could guide children on their journey through life. Since she lacked the financial means to attend a higher-level school, she spent her days at home helping with household chores.

Pupil Celina

  • Origin: Monduli
  • Year of birth: 2008
  • Education: Secondary school (graduation 2024)
  • Tribe: Maasai

When Celina successfully graduated from secondary school, she dreamed of continuing her education and improving her skills. Her father, however, intended to force her into marriage. To escape her father’s plans, she reported the planned forced marriage to the local authorities. They took her in and placed her in a women’s shelter in Arusha. Since then, she has had only sporadic contact with her mother and has never returned home.

Pupil Neema

  • Origin: Ukutu, Manyara
  • Year of birth: 2008
  • Education: Primary school (graduated 2023)
  • Tribe: Maasai

When Neema finished elementary school, she was to be forced into marriage. She tried to resist, but everything seemed to have already been arranged, and there was no way out in sight. So she decided to go to the child protection agency on her own to ask for help. One of the staff members there helped her escape and took her to a women’s shelter in Arusha. She has had no contact with her family since then.

Pupil Neseriani

  • Origin: Arusha, Ngaramtoni
  • Year of Birth: 1995
  • Education: Secondary school (graduated 2014)
  • Tribe: Maasai

After graduating from high school, Neseriani trained as a hairdresser and opened her own salon. Shortly after the opening, however, her husband refused to let her continue working. As a result, she was forced to stay at home. Her relationship with her husband became increasingly strained, and he grew increasingly violent toward her. As a result, she lost her second child in the seventh month of pregnancy. She then decided to leave her husband and return to her parents’ home with her first child.

Pupil Tendei

  • Origin: Mondosori, Loliondo
  • Year of Birth: 2006
  • Education: Secondary School (graduated 2022)
  • Tribe: Maasai

Tendei lives with her parents in the remote region of Loliondo. After she graduated from secondary school, her father wanted to marry her off. She ran away at first, but later sought a conversation with her father to ask him to please not marry her off just yet. He reluctantly agreed, since he did not believe his daughter would have another chance to continue her education. As a result, Tendei was constantly on her guard until she finally received acceptance into the tailoring program at the Engoitoi Epuan school.

Pupil Upendo

  • Origin: Engaruka
  • Year of Birth: 1997
  • Education: Primary School (graduated 2012)
  • Tribe: Maasai

Upendo lives with her husband and their three children near her parents’ home. Her husband works as a night watchman, and she comes from a poor family. Since finishing elementary school, she has sold vegetables at the market from time to time, and later she took care of the children. She has always wanted to learn a trade, such as hairdressing or tailoring. This would enable her to provide a better life for herself and her family and to send the children to a secondary school.


Pupil Zawadi

  • Origin: Makuyuni
  • Year of Birth: 2006
  • Education: Secondary School (2023)
  • Tribe: Maasai

After graduating from high school, her grandmother tried to find the money to enable Zawadi to train as a seamstress or hairdresser. It quickly became clear, however, that her father had other plans and wanted to force her into marriage. Zawadi confided in the local pastor, who took her to the local authorities. They took her in and brought her to a women’s shelter near Arusha. Since leaving home, she has had no contact with her family, for fear that her father would bring her back and force her to marry.

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