The Girls Foundation of Tanzania

10/09/2026

Mental health conversations belong in every classroom. 💛

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10th, we led mental health sessions at five schools in Tanzania, reaching 2,498 students and 15 teachers.

Together we talked about warning signs, what puts pressure on young people at home and at school, and who they can turn to when they need to speak up.

The key lesson: good mental health doesn’t mean being happy all the time. It means facing challenges head on and asking for help when we need it. ✨

📍 Lemara, Nanja, Njiro, Nalopa and Arkatan schools

10/02/2026

09/28/2026

🎉 Congratulations Nasma! 🎉

TGFT High School graduate, Nasma, has successfully completed her 3-month National Army service at Ruvu Camp, a program in Tanzania that builds discipline, patriotism, and practical life skills in young people.

Reflecting on her time at camp, Nasma shared that she learned so much, from patriotism and citizenship to wilderness skills, first aid, and drill. She also took part in agricultural activities, planting crops like cassava, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and cucumbers, learning hard work, patience, and self-reliance along the way.

The training wasn’t easy. Early mornings, demanding exercises, and a strict daily routine tested her, but Nasma persevered. She says she walked away with greater discipline, teamwork, confidence, and respect for her country and community.

In October Nasma will matriculate to College of African Wildlife Management to study tourism. Nasma, we are so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you conquer next!

09/24/2026

More moments from Vivian, Brenda, Tumaini and Juliana’s graduation day! 📸🎓💛

Thank you for letting us walk this journey with you.

Keep shining, girls!

09/23/2026

🎓 Congratulations to our incredible graduates — Vivian, Brenda, Tumaini, and Juliana!

On September 12th, we celebrated an unforgettable milestone as these four amazing girls graduated from Henry Gogarty Secondary School! 💛Our TGFT team was there, standing proud alongside parents, friends, and even our university and pre-university girls who came out to cheer on their fellow TGFT sisters.

Special shoutout to Brenda, who was awarded Best Student in Bible Knowledge and Biology, and Juliana, who received a Leadership Certificate for her service as Discipline Minister. So well deserved!

Following the ceremony, the graduates enjoyed lunch, cake, gifts, and so much love as we celebrated not just the end of secondary school, but the growth, resilience, and leadership each girl has shown throughout their journey.

Vivian, Brenda, Tumaini, Juliana, we are so proud of you. The future is bright! 💛

09/20/2026

🕊️ International Day of Peace is coming up on September 21.

This year’s theme is “Invest in Peace — For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” and it reminds us that peace isn’t just a single moment. It’s a mindset we build every day.

We want to give a big shoutout to TGFT Alumna Pauline, who has been putting this theme into action through her work with United Nations Tanzania and 𝐘𝐔𝐍𝐀 𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐙𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀 She has been supporting outreach, coordination, and peace awareness activities, including school programs focused on peace and tree planting with students over the last several months.

At TGFT, we believe that peace starts young. It grows through education, community, and the everyday choices we make to invest in one another. 🌱💙

We are grateful to have changemakers like Pauline carrying the TGFT spirit forward. 🙌

YouthForPeace

09/19/2026

Alumnae Spotlight: Hellen ✨

In Hellen’s words:
“My journey with The Girls Foundation of Tanzania has been much more than receiving sponsorship support. TGFT supported me throughout my university education, but beyond the financial support, it became a place that nurtured and shaped the woman I am today.

When I first joined TGFT, I was very shy. I found it difficult to speak up, express myself, or stand in front of people and share my thoughts. Through the different programs and activities at TGFT, I was given opportunities to participate in public speaking and share information with my peers, including speaking in front of audiences of more than 500 young people. These experiences gradually helped me overcome my fear and find my voice.

After completing my university education, I was fortunate to return to TGFT as a Program Officer. This has been especially meaningful because I now have the opportunity to support and nurture other girls just as TGFT supported me. It is very special to walk alongside other girls and encourage them to believe in themselves and recognize their own potential.
TGFT is not simply an organization that provides educational sponsorship. It is a place that invests in girls, helping them discover who they are, develop their confidence, build leadership skills, and believe that they can create a better future for themselves and their communities. I am proud to have been a beneficiary, and today, I am even more grateful to be part of the team helping other girls experience the same transformation.”

Hellen, you didn’t just complete your journey with TGFT, you came back to help write the next one for other girls. We are so grateful for you. 💛

Follow along as we share more alumnae stories.

09/16/2026

Big things happened at the 2026 Annual NGO Forum for the Arusha Region last month and TGFT was there.

522 NGOs came together with government officials, NaCoNGO leaders, and development stakeholders for honest conversations about what it really takes to build a sustainable NGO sector, from policy and compliance to partnerships, innovation, and the responsible use of AI.

Behind the scenes, TGFT Executive Director, Dr. Estahappy worked closely with the planning committee for two months to help make this forum a successful event. 👏

The biggest takeaway from the day? Sustainability isn’t just about funding. It’s about strong leadership, skilled teams, meaningful partnerships, and staying true to your mission.

We are grateful for the connections made and the lessons learned alongside so many organizations doing meaningful work across Tanzania. 🙌

09/14/2026

30 coaches. 3 days. One powerful lesson: play has purpose. ⚽

We are proud to have our own Coach Fred representing TGFT at the Purposeful Play Coach Education Training in Zanzibar, hosted by WEZA | Zanzibar and Coaches Across Continents last week!

Coaches came together to explore how games can build confidence, spark communication, and open up conversations around mental health.

It all started with Global Day of Play on August 27 when young adults and coaches came together worldwide to feel the power of play firsthand.

Because play isn’t just a game or sport. It’s a tool for connection, healing, and change. 🙌

Thank you to CAC, the WEZA team, and Tejas for the guidance and to every coach who showed up to learn and grow. 💛

09/07/2026

Happy International Day of Literacy 📚

This year’s theme says it all: “Literacy for People, the Planet and Prosperity.” UNESCO

At the Girls Centre, our Community Library we served 162 patrons in 2025. As of June 30, 2026, that number jumped to 352. That’s more than double in one year!

Every secondary student needs 13 textbooks to cover their subjects, and at $10 each, that’s an investment that goes a long way toward opening doors for every student who visits the TGFT Community Library.

At our first Alumnae Reunion, our girls surprised us by donating 175 textbooks to the library. Our alumnae aren’t just moving forward, they’re investing in the women who come after them.

Literacy changes lives. And this community is making sure more students than ever have the tools to keep learning.

Want to help stock the shelves? Just $10 puts one textbook in a student’s hands. Click the link in our bio to donate today. 💛📚