Graduate Advera

• Origin: Geita, Mwanza
• Year of birth: .2008
• Education: Primary school (graduated 2023)
• Tribe: Msukuma

Ever since she was little, Advera has dreamed of sewing. After finishing elementary school, however, she was unable to attend secondary school. So she tried her luck in faraway Arusha, where she found work as a housemaid for a kind family. They live near the Engoitoi Epuan school and allowed her to attend sewing classes during the day, so she could do the housework in the evenings and on weekends. Advera is currently doing an internship at the Engoitoi Epuan sewing workshop in the nearby town of “Ngaramtoni.”

Graduate Aneth

• Origin: Arusha, Iliboru
• Year of birth: 2012
• Education: Primary school (graduated 2024)
• Tribe: Mchaga

Since her father’s sudden death in September 2024, Aneth has been living in a modest house with her mother, who suffers from high blood pressure, and her siblings. For financial reasons, she was unable to attend high school.

She dreams of running a small tailor shop where she can design clothes and accessories and, later on, pass on her knowledge to other young women.

Aneth is currently expanding her knowledge through an internship at “Daisies Artists” near Arusha.

Graduate Emmy

• Origin: Osinoni, Ngorongoro
• Year of birth: 2003
• Education: Secondary school (graduated 2020)
• Tribe: Maasai

After finishing secondary school, Emmy was unable to attend a higher-level school for financial reasons. So her father decided to marry her off. Emmy didn’t want this and fled to the town of “Karatu,” where she found work as a housemaid with a family. They treated her as inferior because she was just a housemaid. That’s why she didn’t enjoy working and living in Karatu, but felt compelled to do so. Emmy dreams of standing on her own two feet, supporting herself, and helping her mother and siblings escape poverty.

Emmy is currently completing her internship at Engoitoi Epuan’s sewing workshop.

Graduate Grace

• Origin: Hanang, Manyara
• Year of birth: 2008
• Eductaion: Secondary school (without graduation 2023)
• Tribe: Miaturu

Neither of Grace’s parents attended school; her mother is a homemaker, and her father is responsible for providing for his family. Unfortunately, his modest income as a day laborer—which he earns by crushing stones into gravel—doesn’t go very far. As a result, Grace was unable to finish secondary school. Instead, she went to distant Arusha to look for work at a small guesthouse. Grace hopes to open a small sewing workshop near her family and thus return to her roots.

Grace is currently doing an internship at Mahdish Designer in Arusha.

Graduate Happy

• Origin: Kimnyaki, Arusha
• Year of birth: 2006
• Education: Secondary school (graduated 2023)
• Tribe: Maasai

Happy lives with her four siblings and four adopted siblings with her parents near Arusha. Aside from not having the opportunity to attend school, Happy was happy with her family and friends.

Happy has dropped out of her internship and is currently looking for another solution.

Graduate Maria

• Origin: Kirtalo, Ngorongoro
• Year of birth: 2007
• Education: Primary school (without graduation 2018)
• Stamm: Maasai

Before her elementary school final exams, Maria was supposed to get married at the age of just 10. On her mother’s advice, Maria fled to Kenya, where she lived with her older sister for five years. During that time, she never went home because she was afraid she would be married off immediately. Later, starting in mid-2023, she was given the opportunity to work as a housemaid for a family in Arusha. Maria hopes to become an experienced seamstress who earns enough to support her mother.

Maria is currently doing an internship at AfriTech at Nelson Mandela University near Arusha.

Graduate Monika

• Origin: Ngarwa, Ngorongoro
• Year of birth: 2003
• Education: Secondary school (graduated 2020)
• Tribe: Maasai

When Monika started elementary school, the family was entirely dependent on her mother’s meager wages as a day laborer in the fields. Her father was already elderly and an alcoholic, and he left the family after becoming violent toward her mother on several occasions. Her mother, however, worked so hard that Monika graduated from high school with flying colors in 2020. However, her educational journey ended prematurely because the family lacked the financial means for further education. The lack of prospects weighed heavily on Monika. Learning the tailoring trade makes Monika happy. Finally, she has the chance to learn and develop her skills.

Today, Monika is doing an internship at a private sewing shop near Arusha.

Graduate Rosy

• Origin: Seuri, Arusha
• Year of birth: 2003
• Education: Secondary school (graduated 2023)
• Tribe: Maasai

Rosy lives with her family near the Engoitoi Epuan School. She has always enjoyed going to school. However, due to limited financial resources and frequent arguments between her parents, Rosy often missed classes. Nevertheless, she passed her secondary school final exams and, on her father’s advice, subsequently sought work as a domestic worker for various families. However, she did not like this work because she felt she was being treated unfairly by her employers. Rosy dreams of being independent.

Rosy is currently expanding her knowledge through an internship at AfriTech at Nelson Mandela University near Arusha.

Graduate Salome

• Origin: Olore, Iliboru
• Year of birth: 2005
• Education: Secondary school (graduated 2023)
• Tribe: Maasai

Salome lives with her mother and siblings in a suburb of Arusha. Her father left the family when she was 11 years old. Her mother and older brother made it possible for Salome to finish secondary school. However, continuing her education was out of the question for financial reasons. As a result, Salome helped her mother with household chores and took care of her younger siblings.

Salome hopes to become a wonderful woman who lives a loving life with her future husband, raises their children together, and contributes to their shared livelihood through her work.

Salome is currently completing an internship at “Daisies Artists” near Arusha.

Graduate Trina

• Origin: Kimnyaki, Arusha
• Year of birth: 2006
• Education: Primary school (without graduation 2021)
• Tribe: Maasai

Trina was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and has since moved back and forth between Kenya and Tanzania. She mostly lived with her alcoholic mother and her two younger brothers. Her father married another woman and paid little attention to his first family. In July 2022, Trina’s mother returned to Kenya once again. Trina decided to stay in Arusha with her two younger brothers. She tried to make a living by selling bananas, but this proved difficult.

Trina hopes to provide her two brothers with a better life and the opportunity to attend school.

Today, Trina is doing an internship at Engoitoi Epuan’s sewing workshop.