Communications | Recruitment | Kisa Program | 6th October 2023

At GLAMI, our Kisa Program is a powerful force reshaping the futures of young girls in Tanzania. This two-year leadership course, tailored for girls in their final two years of secondary school, equips them to attend university and become catalysts for positive change in their communities. Through Kisa, these girls explore into personal leadership, social entrepreneurship, life skills, health sessions, and receive invaluable career guidance.

The Kisa Program journey began in 2010 with just 21 scholars, but it has evolved into a victorious story of transformation. Today, we proudly celebrate over 6,300+ Kisa Program graduates and 2,790+ active enrolled scholars. This remarkable growth is a testament to the program’s profound impact year after year.

But the journey doesn’t end here. To ensure continuous growth and sustainability of the program, we recruit new scholars every year. As existing scholars graduate, new ones step in to keep the program vibrant and evolving.

Each year, the Kisa Program embarks on a fresh recruitment journey. It’s a new beginning for Mentors who eagerly await the opportunity to guide a new cohort of scholars, each with their unique abilities, ambitions, talents, and dreams. Mentors play a pivotal role in nurturing these young scholars, helping them realize their potential and selflessly invest in their future goals. The program also emphasizes the importance of mental well-being and offers psycho-social support through dedicated Social Workers.

This year’s recruitment process, held from late August to late September, was a well-structured and impactful journey across four essential phases done in four weeks. The primary objective was to identify the scholars who would join the Kisa Program, recognizing that resources are limited, and not all girls can be part of the Program but also have scholars who voluntarily want to join the Program.

In the first week, baseline surveys were conducted, collecting data from a sample of 10 scholars at each partner school. These surveys were done to understand scholars’ knowledge, attitudes, and expectations before they embarked on the program. This information serves as a reference point to measure the gap and assess the impact of the program after their two-year journey.

The second week, Mentors and Social workers introduced the program’s activities to Scholars, giving them the opportunity to voluntarily decide to join by completing application forms. These forms are designed to ensure a fair selection process and prevent bias. We consider three key categories during recruitment: geographical diversity, background, and vulnerability. This approach aligns with our  goal of transforming girls’ lives in Tanzania and making a positive impact in our communities.

During the third week, scholars participated in one-on-one interviews with Mentors. These interviews provide scholars with the opportunity to share their life experiences and challenges, showcasing their commitment to the program and their aspirations to become personal leaders.

After carefully reviewing forms and conducting interviews, our dedicated Mentors and Social Workers select the scholars who will have the privilege of joining the Kisa Program. These newly recruited Kisa Scholars then embark on their two-year transformational journey.  As Nuru Jaji, a mentor at GLAMI, describes it, the new Scholars showed an inspiring readiness for their Kisa journey. They are hungry for transformation, and their courage in taking this step towards greatness is truly admirable.

Recruitment marks the beginning of scholars’ journeys towards personal leadership and self-discovery. It’s a time for mentors to envision how they can best support these Scholars in achieving their goals.

On this year’s recruitment process we saw a significant number of Scholars already familiar with the Kisa Program, eager to join. They asked insightful questions, reflecting their readiness for the transformative journey.

“We noticed a significant number of scholars who already had some knowledge about the Kisa Program and expressed a strong interest in joining. I was truly impressed by the enthusiasm and confidence displayed by these girls during the introduction process. They were comfortable and some even started asking sensitive questions, which most scholars might typically avoid on their first day of the interview.” Ndiini Nasira, Mentor Coordinator.

Bertha Samwel, a student at Mringa Secondary, learned about Kisa Program from her cousin, a Kisa Alumna. Intrigued by the glowing reviews, she spoke of her eagerness to join the Kisa Program, recognizing Kisa Program as the ideal place to nurture her leadership skills and shape her career path.

This year, a remarkable total of 1,553 Scholars, including Bertha, have joined the Kisa Program from 22 of our partner schools. This incredible number demonstrates the strong desire of girls to make a positive impact on their lives and communities.

Kisa’s impact is undeniable, with 98% of Kisa Scholars having the opportunity to join various universities in 2022. Many of these graduates have taken leadership positions, initiated positive changes in their communities, and have become resilient, both mentally and physically. Grace, a Kisa Year Two Scholar, has experienced a remarkable transformation through the program. She now exudes confidence when speaking in front of others, a skill she once found hard. She said, “First, Kisa has transformed me. It has boosted my confidence. I used to be afraid to speak with my father, but now, if I encounter an issue, I can approach both of my parents with Confidence. Moreover, Kisa has helped me overcome my personal challenges. In the past, I used to cry when faced with difficulties, but now, I can find solutions.” Grace’s journey exemplifies the profound impact of the Kisa Program.

As we look ahead, we see a sea of young girls, eager and ready for change. It’s a call to parents and the entire community to offer unwavering support to these girls, for they are the catalysts for the positive changes we all aspire to see in the world. The Kisa Program isn’t just about igniting change; it’s about nurturing leaders who will light the way for a brighter future.