Regina was about to spend her life as a housemaid. After finishing Form Four with low exam results, she was unable to continue advanced-level education. With limited opportunities in her village and financial challenges, Regina was taken to Mwanza to work as a housemaid for a family.

In Kurusanga village, Tanzania, opportunities for young women after secondary school (O-level) are very limited. Most girls either remain at home to help with farming and household chores and engage in selling things like vegetables; or end up marrying early. There are very few formal job opportunities for many girls. One of the only options is to move away to work as a housemaid. Housemaid duties included cleaning, cooking, washing clothes, and caring for small children. This type of work is common for young women from rural villages.

One day Regina’s mother heard about Project Zawadi through a local Village committee member who saw a letter sent from PZ to village leadership regarding vocational training opportunities for non-sponsored students. She encouraged Regina to apply. With her family’s support, she applied and was accepted.

Regina’s family is humble. Her mother is a small-scale farmer who grows maize and cassava for household consumption and small market sales which are used for food. Her father passed away some years ago, so her mother has been the main provider for her family.

In 2024, Regina was selected for the 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 in the tailoring and designing trade. She was paired with Fundi Juma Shaban – a respected tailor in the community, who has been mentoring her as she transitions from domestic work to a skilled profession. Regina has been learning how to operate sewing machines, take measurements, cut fabrics, and design clothing like dresses, trousers, aprons, shirts, skirts, and Kitenge bags. She is especially interested in making traditional Kitenge dresses, which are popular in her community. Her progress has been impressive. Fundi Juma Shaban praises her creativity, discipline, and eagerness to learn.

She is able to make income! With the income from her tailoring, Regina has helped her mother buy household essentials such as maize flour, cooking oil, soap, and clothing for her younger siblings. Regina shared,

“The very first time I earned money from sewing, I used it to buy cooking oil and flour for my mother. When I handed them to her, she smiled warmly and said, ‘Your sponsors are truly a blessing to our family.’ Hearing those words filled me with pride and gave me the courage to keep working hard. Asante Sana!” 

Regina hopes to create modern designs that celebrate African culture and also to mentor other young girls who, like her, may have missed out on further education. We’re excited to see Regina help her family, enjoy her creativity, tailoring skills, and dream for more.  Thank you to all of those who help stories and dreams like hers, come to life!