Girls Education Collaborative

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Girls Education Collaborative GEC partners with local change-makers to bring social change through the power of girls education. Learn more: www.GEC.ngo

GEC is supporting the Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa to build and grow an exceptional school for girls in Mara Region, Tanzania.

Celebrating the KGSS Class of 2026 on International Day of the Girl! 🎓💙This International Day of the Girl, we celebrate ...
10/11/2026

Celebrating the KGSS Class of 2026 on International Day of the Girl! 🎓💙

This International Day of the Girl, we celebrate the remarkable seventh graduating class of Kitenga Girls Secondary School (KGSS) in Tanzania! 📘🎓

May these incredible young women continue to dream boldly, lead courageously, and inspire others wherever life takes them. When girls rise, the world rises with them. 💙✨

🎓 Drumroll, please! 🥁 You’re All Invited! This year’s graduation invitation from Kitenga Girls Secondary School has offi...
10/06/2026

🎓 Drumroll, please! 🥁 You’re All Invited!

This year’s graduation invitation from Kitenga Girls Secondary School has officially arrived. The Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa (IHSA) have invited GEC to celebrate the 7th graduating class of KGSS on October 9, and we could not be more excited.

59 girls!
One milestone!
Years of learning, growing, and showing resilience as they prepare for a future filled with possibilities.

Behind every graduation is a story. Year after year, these girls have learned, grown, and thrived through challenges, building the knowledge, confidence, and skills to shape their own futures.

For GEC, this graduation is especially meaningful. It marks 10 years since the Sisters opened the doors of KGSS to girls across the Mara Region, beginning a partnership with GEC that has grown alongside seven graduating classes.

We are so proud of each of these 59 girls, and we cannot wait to celebrate them and see where they go next!

You’re all invited to celebrate with us! 🎉

DID YOU KNOW?Back-to-school looks different for every girl.In Tanzania, only 32% of girls complete lower secondary schoo...
09/25/2026

DID YOU KNOW?
Back-to-school looks different for every girl.

In Tanzania, only 32% of girls complete lower secondary school (UNESCO). As girls around the world gear up to resume their education this September, we’re reminded at GEC of the importance of sustained support, such as the Girls Rise Scholarships, which invest in the girls of KGSS and help close that gap.

This year, back-to-school looks different across our KGSS community. While some girls are looking forward to a fresh start, the Form 4 girls are deep in exam preparation. Every one of these milestones, whether a new term or an exam season, represents a girl beating odds that are stacked against her.

We commend the entire KGSS community, from staff to students, whose resilience and commitment to staying the course, term after term, make GEC’s impact possible. We wish them a wonderful academic year ahead! 💙📘

With Gratitude: Farewell to Ryan KnowlesToday, we celebrate Ryan Knowles, who has served GEC as Board Treasurer for many...
09/04/2026

With Gratitude: Farewell to Ryan Knowles

Today, we celebrate Ryan Knowles, who has served GEC as Board Treasurer for many years, bringing his experience and thoughtful stewardship to GEC’s financial work throughout the organization’s growth.

Ryan was on the Board when the Alliance Funder Alliance (AFA) was launched, supporting GEC as it deepened its partnerships with locally led organizations in Tanzania. His experience working with nonprofits in financial roles brought valuable perspective to GEC’s financial stewardship and helped strengthen the organization as it grew.

Ryan’s commitment to GEC reflects his deep belief in the transformative power of girls’ education. When Kitenga Girls Secondary School opened in 2017, Ryan and his family shared a message of encouragement that beautifully captured his belief in what is possible for girls: “We are so proud of you! You can do anything you dream of.” Today, the girls of KGSS continue to dream boldly and pursue those dreams.

Thank you, Ryan, for your years of dedicated service, thoughtful financial stewardship, and steadfast belief in GEC and the girls of Kitenga.

Asante Sana!

With Gratitude: Farewell to Bob BergerToday, we celebrate Bob Berger, who was there when GEC was first formed and went o...
09/02/2026

With Gratitude: Farewell to Bob Berger

Today, we celebrate Bob Berger, who was there when GEC was first formed and went on to serve on the Board for more than 14 years, including five years as Board Chair. His leadership helped shape GEC during its foundational years and played an important role in turning an early vision into a lasting partnership in Tanzania.

Bob played an instrumental role in helping turn GEC’s vision into reality. When he first visited Kitenga in 2013, there was no school, only a dream of what could be. Bob was part of the team that helped select the site for the Alice Kryzan Memorial Library, which became the first building constructed on the site and remains a cherished space for students today.

Over the years, Bob continued to support GEC’s vision as it grew, returning to Kitenga many times, including in 2024 for graduation and the dedication of the Gathering Place. The foundation Bob helped build has created opportunities for generations of girls in Tanzania to access a safe and quality education.

Thank you, Bob, for 14 years of thoughtful leadership, steadfast commitment, and belief in what was possible.

Asante Sana!

With Gratitude: Farewell to Dr. Christine BrownAs we welcome new board members this year, our hearts are also full as we...
08/26/2026

With Gratitude: Farewell to Dr. Christine Brown

As we welcome new board members this year, our hearts are also full as we bid farewell to three remarkable members of our board. Each has given GEC years of wisdom, heart, and dedication, and we are taking time to celebrate their legacy this week.

Starting with Dr. Christine Brown, who served as GEC Board Secretary for a decade. Over the years, Christine has contributed to GEC in countless ways, from working alongside the Sisters at Kitenga to championing fundraising in the U.S. and helping build the partnership with Mainsprings. Her many visits to Kitenga reflect a deep commitment to the students and partners we work alongside, and to the relationships at the heart of GEC’s work.

Thank you, Christine, for a decade of unwavering dedication.

Asante Sana!

Wishing the Young Girls at KGSS a Wonderful International Youth Day!
08/12/2026

Wishing the Young Girls at KGSS a Wonderful International Youth Day!

08/10/2026

Term 2 is in full swing! 💙

There’s something special about seeing students return to campus with renewed energy and excitement for the year ahead.

For KGSS Form 4 students, this is their final term of lower secondary school, a season filled with anticipation as they prepare for their exams and look forward to what comes next.

You might expect to see just nerves. Instead, we see smiles, laughter, and quiet confidence. They know how hard they’ve worked, and they know what they’re capable of!

That’s one of the greatest gifts of education: it doesn’t just change what girls know, it changes how they see themselves 💙

06/16/2026

GEC's founder Anne Wadsworth received Bowdoin College 's 2026 Common Good Award, recognizing a lifetime of work advancing the common good.

In her acceptance remarks, Anne reminded us that this recognition is not about one person. It belongs to the community that has helped shape Girls Education Collaborative over the past 15 years: our supporters, board members, volunteers, donors, partners, and especially the Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa, whose leadership and vision continue to inspire us every day.

Most importantly, Anne dedicated this moment to the girls who remain at the heart of our work. "The girls who are denied the educations they seek. The girls who are sold into marriage. The girls who want to show the world there's nothing a girl can't do."

This award shines a light on the belief that meaningful change happens when a small group of people come together.

Congratulations, Anne. We are deeply grateful for your leadership, and for everyone who has been part of this journey.

It’s almost lunchtime in Kitenga 🍅🥑🥕🥬🫑If you were there right now, you’d probably find girls gathered outside the dining...
05/29/2026

It’s almost lunchtime in Kitenga 🍅🥑🥕🥬🫑

If you were there right now, you’d probably find girls gathered outside the dining hall, sitting under the shade of a tree, having a laugh together, and patiently (or impatiently!) waiting for lunch.

The school leadership heard from parents that this is one of the things their girls were most excited to come back to after break: fresh fruits and vegetables every single day.

Earlier that morning, fruits and vegetables harvested from the Garden for the Future, the school’s permaculture farm, would have been brought directly to the kitchen to be prepared for lunch.

This was intentional. From the beginning, the farm was never designed only as an agriculture project. It was designed as part of the educational ecosystem itself: improving nutrition, strengthening food security, creating practical learning opportunities, and helping build a school environment where girls are healthier, more focused, and better able to thrive.

Educating the whole girl means recognizing that learning doesn’t happen in isolation, and that wellbeing, practical life skills, and a supportive environment are all part of helping girls succeed inside and outside the classroom.

Address

657 Persons Street
East Aurora, NY
14052

Telephone

+17167109105

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