An Update from Hawega
I wanted to take a moment to share an update on Hawega: how this work came to life, and where it stands today.
In 2021, a trip to Tanzania introduced me to my friend Sainga and the realities facing girls in the Datooga tribe, including the prevalence of FGM and the power of education to change the trajectory of a girl’s life. What I encountered there stayed with me long after we returned home, and within months, the Hawega Foundation was founded.
What started with five girls has grown into something far greater.
But what makes this moment especially meaningful is that all five of our very first students, who began with Hawega in 2022, are now starting their fifth year of school. Watching them grow year after year has been one of the most powerful reminders of what long-term commitment can do. Their continued enrollment isn’t just a milestone, it’s proof that sustained access to education creates lasting change.
As we closed out the 2025 school year, 30 Hawega-sponsored girls were enrolled at Silverleaf Academy, spanning grades from Kindergarten through primary. Their academic results reflected consistent growth and stability across the board:
100% earned A or B final exam scores
83% achieved an A average across subjects
100% met or exceeded their academic benchmarks
But numbers only tell part of the story.
Beyond the grades, we’ve seen increased confidence in the classroom, stronger participation, deeper peer relationships, and girls beginning to see themselves as capable learners with real futures ahead of them. Education creates opportunity, but consistency, safety, and support create transformation.
Last week, the 2026 school year officially began at Silverleaf Academy.
After a month at home with their families, our Hawega girls returned to campus with fresh uniforms, new notebooks, and renewed excitement for the year ahead. This semester also marked a milestone we are deeply proud of: five new students joined the Hawega program, each from families who chose education over FGM.
These decisions are not small. They represent courage, protection, and a willingness to imagine a different future and we applaud their parents for taking this step.
Before the semester began, our team in Tanzania welcomed these new students and helped them prepare for school- shopping for essentials, personal care items, and supplies they’ll need on campus. It’s a small but meaningful step that reinforces a simple truth: when a girl feels safe, cared for, and dignified, she is ready to learn.
Today, thirty-five girls are actively enrolled through Hawega sponsorship, all supported by an extraordinary on-the-ground team, including our co-founder Sainga, whose leadership continues to guide this work from within the community itself.
When I look at this season, I don’t just see progress. I see momentum, access, and the long-term power of education to change the trajectory of a girl’s life.
None of this happens without the friends, donors, and supporters who choose to stand with us.
Every girl in school, every family choosing education, every milestone we reach is made possible by people who believe in this work and commit to it. Not once, but over time. Your generosity, trust, and willingness to walk alongside us is what allows Hawega to keep showing up, year after year.
As this new school year begins, I’m reminded that every meaningful change starts with a dream… and the courage to believe it’s possible. I keep coming back to the idea that change always starts with imagination. With the ability to picture something different and take steps toward it. These girls embody that truth every day as they learn, grow, and begin to see new possibilities for themselves.
Supporting girls means supporting women before they even know who they’ll become. It means believing that education can unlock choice, agency, and the power to create change- not just for one life, but for generations. That belief is what continues to guide this work forward.
