Communications | Kisa Program Alumni Story | 02 May 2024
Magreth Augustine Mrema, a Kisa Program alumna, saw her leadership journey transform when she became the First Female Prime Minister of the University of Dar Es Salaam (UDSM) Students’ Organization for the academic year 2022/2023, leading approximately 14,000+ students at her university.
Magreth, currently a fourth-year law student at the University of Dar es Salaam, proudly holds the title of the “First female Prime Minister” at the University of Dar es Salaam Student Organization. Her journey traces back to her formative years at Mwandet High School in Arusha, where she joined the Kisa Program in 2018 and graduated in the year 2020.
Under the mentorship of Chonge Tukwa and Eliakunda Kaaya, Magreth’s passion for leadership blossomed. Magreth had a dream of leading others, at first she feared how that would happen but still wanted her dream to come true one day. When she joined High School at Mwandet Secondary, she never thought that her dream would one day become true until after she joined the Kisa Program. Magreth Leadership Journey firstly turned as she started contesting for the Students Leadership role at her high school and was elected as the Head Prefect at Mwandet Secondary School in 2019. From there, her journey had just begun. Her favorite Kisa lesson, “Personal Leadership,” became the cornerstone of her realization of the transformative power of leadership in both personal and community contexts.
In 2020, Magreth graduated from high school and proceeded to pursue further studies at the University of Dar Es Salaam, where she enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) course. As she got to university she encountered challenges that made it hard for her to fully utilize her potential as a leader. Recognizing this she decided to communicate with her Kisa Program Mentor, Chonge, who then revived her leadership spirit. Her Mentor, Chonge said “I had to remind her of who she really was, where she came from, and what she loved doing for her community. I told her that even while she’s at university, she can still go after opportunities and not let challenges stop her from being the leader she truly is.” This really changed Magreth’s perception, as a few weeks later, she began getting herself involved in community activities and made the bold decision to run for the position of Prime Minister at the Dar Es Salaam University Students Organization (DARUSO).
When contesting for the University Prime Minister role, Magreth realized that women were not fully trusted by her community to take such Leadership ranking positions, that she had to use so much effort to convince her community that she also can lead better than anyone else. And since she believed she could, and so she did.
Today, as the First Female Prime Minister at University of Dar Es Salaam, Magreth seamlessly integrates the lessons from Kisa sessions into her Leadership role and life in general. From Personal Leadership to Ethics, Emotional Intelligence, and Social Media Utilization, these tools have become integral to her impactful journey.
Kisa Program played a pivotal role in Magreth’s success. In addition to the valuable lessons she learned and applied as a leader, Magreth also received Kisa Alumni Scholarship support. This scholarship covered her university tuition fees for two consecutive years, helping her overcome the challenges she faced while pursuing her education at the university. She also received invaluable training through the Kisa Alumni Network events on different topics such as Mental Health and Entrepreneurship. Her Mentor Madam Chonge continues to inspire Magreth with the powerful affirmation that, “Binti mwenye Ndoto ni moto,” a Swahili word for “A girl with a Dream is a burning Fire” reinforcing the transformative potential of every girls dreams becoming a reality.
Magreth envisions herself as a successful and empowered lawyer, serving her community against social injustice. Her role model, Hon. Tulia Ackson (the Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania), embodies the path Magreth aspires to thread—a lawyer making a profound impact through service to the community.
Magreth retired from her role in July 2023 after serving for a full year. Currently, she advises the current university student government on their endeavors, particularly the current Prime Minister of the University of Dar Es Salaam Students’ Organization. Looking ahead, Magreth hopes for a future where girls in Tanzania can break barriers without social limits. Her message to young girls is simple yet impactful: “Living life means exploring your potentials and using them to leave a mark you will forever be remembered with, making a world a better place.”
Magreth’s journey with the Kisa Program is a testament to the transformative power of education, mentorship, and the unwavering determination of a young girl with a dream who becomes a powerful force for change.
Written and Contributed by : Deborah Rodgers,
GLAMI’s Communications Coordinator