Communications | Binti Shupavu | Role Models | 11th February 2025
Determination and self-realization are powerful forces, often driven by qualities we aspire to embody or become. When a young girl discovers her dreams for the future and finds an inspiring role model within her community who fuels her ambition, she begins to see the person she can become—or even surpass. This is when determination truly takes roots.
At GLAMI, the Binti Shupavu program equips girls with leadership and life skills through five key modules: Personal Motivation, Health and Well-being, Study Skills, Realizing Potentials and Strength and Resilience. These modules are covered progressively over four years, aiming to increase secondary school graduation rates in Tanzania while empowering young girls to realize their full potential and thrive.
One impactful lesson, “Identifying Your Role Model,” is part of the fourth module, “Realizing Your Potential.” In this lesson, girls in our Binti Program explore and learn about role models who inspire them and help fuel their determination for the future. During the lesson, “Identifying Your Role Model,” scholars learn about the concept of role models, how to identify them, and what steps they can take to emulate or even surpass them. One engaging activity during the lesson involved scholars sharing aloud who their role models are and explaining why they chose them. Thanks to the confidence they’ve gained from Binti lessons, scholars easily identified their role models and articulated their reasons with pride.
What stood out as a delightful surprise was that many scholars chose their role models from within their own communities—local leaders, parents, relatives, and teachers. These were people who had a direct influence on their lives, individuals they admired and aspired to be like. It was heartening to see these young girls recognizing and appreciating the positive examples set by those around them. A few examples of what Binti Scholars shared of who their role models are included :
“I aspire to be like my mother because she is a confident woman, and I admire how hardworking she is in her businesses to provide for me and my younger siblings. She never gets tired of waking up early to face the challenges of the day. I also dream of becoming a successful businesswoman one day.” – Anna, Binti Shupavu Scholar
“I aspire to be like the doctor at the hospital in our village because she is kind and listens to her patients attentively. One day, I want to be just like her.” – Lightness, Binti Shupavu Scholar
“I aspire to be a teacher like my teacher, Madam Mwala. She is a teacher who listens to her students before disciplining them and genuinely cares for them”– Jane, Binti Shupavu Scholar
This lesson highlighted an important truth: young girls observe us closely. They notice what we do, how we handle challenges, and how we carry ourselves. Their inspiration often comes from the people closest to them. Even before this lesson, many scholars already had role models, though they might not have realized it. They had a vision of the kind of person they wanted to become based on what they saw in their communities—whether those examples were good or bad.
Through this session, scholars also learned an essential lesson: not all role models are positive influences. Some may lack the qualities necessary to inspire meaningful growth or contribute positively to the community. In the segment “Why That Role Model?,” scholars were encouraged to critically analyze their role models, identifying the positive attributes to adopt and discarding the negative ones. This approach empowers them to choose role models who truly inspire and guide them toward achieving their goals.
Lessons like this remind us of the importance of living an inspiring life. Whether we realize it or not, we are all role models to someone. The question is, what kind of example are we setting? Are we leaving behind a legacy of positivity and hope for the next generation?
Everyone has the potential to inspire others. By choosing to live a life of integrity, kindness, and purpose, we can ensure that those who look up to us as role models are motivated to believe in a brighter future. Let’s challenge ourselves to be the kind of role models who make the world a better place—one inspiring example at a time.
The Binti Shupavu Program reminds us of the power of hope, resilience, and the pursuit of a better future for young girls. These qualities inspire young girls to dream big, fight for their success through education, and draw motivation from the people around them who lead good and successful lives. Positive behaviors and attitudes also serve as a significant source of inspiration for these young girls. Every girl, no matter her background, deserves the chance to learn, grow, and achieve greatness.
