June 2023 Newsletter

Mtera Presentation

On May 20, our team traveled to Mtera Secondary School to share our presentation on reproductive and sexual health education to the students.  Girls and boys were taught separately, using the curriculum from “Days for Girls” with a subset for the boys from “Men Who Know.”  Over 270 students attended the sessions with 150 girls receiving kits.

Purchase of Materials in Dar Es Salaam.

We have had an ongoing problem finding fleece, snaps and PUL material in the Iringa Market.  To date, we have been sending these products with BKB folks who are traveling to Tanzania.  Our goal is to have all products purchased in- country so money is returned to the local economy.  Astine Bose, our BKB Program Coordinator and Natihaika Msuya, our DFD Program Coordinator, made a successful trip to Dar Es Salaam.  There they found not only fleece and snaps, but also mattress protection material that can be used in the same manner as the PUL material. 

Introducing Intern Izzy John

“Hi everyone!  My name is Izzy John and I am super excited to be working with Dignity for Daughters as a summer intern.  I graduated last year from Champlin Park High School after having lived my whole life in Minnesota.  I just finished my freshman year of college at Harvard University where I study Sociology with a secondary focus in Global Health and Health Policy.”

Izzy will help our DFD team in a variety of ways both in St. Paul and for a month on-the-ground in Iringa.  Welcome Izzy!!

DFD Program Coordinator Reports

We receive thorough monthly reports from our DFD Program Coordinator with detailed updates on goals, budget, issues and general comments.  We are thrilled to have Natihaika, a former matron and teacher at Mtera Secondary School, as our PC.  She is not only a detail-oriented supervisor to our trainers and sewers but is an excellent trainer herself.