Fursa Fellows

Mecktidis is 18 and comes from Njombe. She is a recent Form Four graduate, with a passion for History and Swahili. One of five children, she is the last born. Sadly, her mother passed during childbirth with Mecktidis and her father passed soon after.  From 2005, Mecktidis was moved through four orphanages and children's homes, experiencing many challenges. Her experiences in children's homes has inspired her to identify her life's purpose: to help orphaned and vulnerable children achieve their goals and improve their quality of life by improving the systems that support them. She loves to watch movies, to farm, and to dance. 

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For Mecktidis, the Fursa Camp has allowed her to learn all about computers, something she knew nothing about. Furthermore, it has taught her the importance of using love and kindness when communicating. 

Herieth comes from Njombe region, born into a family of nine siblings. Her father, residing separately from her mother, practices polygamy with two wives. She holds a secondary education certificate from Maheve Secondary School, aspiring to become a nurse and aid her community. During the leadership camp, Herieth found the program unique by enjoying the meals provided and the holistic set-up. Her favourite sessions centred on building confidence, computer literacy, and anger management. These experiences have shaped her aspirations and encouraged her determination to serve others, reflecting a resilient spirit eager to overcome challenges and contribute positively to her surroundings.

Farida is the firstborn of 15 children, at just 19. She has been a leader since primary school in church and even as a class monitor multiple years in a row. She comes from a polygamous family, making it harder for her to get all of her school needs met. She loves to play netball and was on her school’s netball (volleyball) squad. Since she has come to the camp, Farida has already improved her confidence tenfold.  Her ambition is to become a book writer, covering a variety of topics such as adventures, stories, and articles. She also helps and empowers women and is a self-identified feminist! Since finishing the camp, she has gone onto Advanced Level Form 5 to pursue her dreams of becoming a writer. 

Kida is a Form Four graduate from Kilolo - Iringa. Her father passed away in 2005, (he left 7 children). She lives with her grandmother, a farmer who is the only person who supports her. Kida aspires to be a lawyer because she wants to ensure that people in her community have access to their legal rights. Post-camp she started a business of beading bracelets and rings. This will help her improve her living standard and cover some school requirements such as tuition and housing when she starts high school. Kida is a hard working, focused and a self-made young girl. Her determination on perusing her high school education is undeniable, even after loosing her parents and her relatives convincing her to drop school, she kept hard to fulfill her educational dream and it has paid her off that she encourages girls of her age type not to despair; she is a type of leader her village can be proud of. Throughout 2023 and 2024, Kida has returned to the ECT Eco-Farm during school breaks to receive mentoring, coaching, and support as her home environment has been unsafe. 

She completed an ordinary education at Luhunga secondary school. She is one of the main providers for her family – and works very hard at farming, and other incomegenerating activities to get enough food for her family and to send her sibling to secondary school. She used to cry and shut down when asked about how she was doing because she was very stressed and overwhelmed. Since coming to the FURSA camp and receiving one-on-one mentorship and counselling, Evodia has completely opened up. Now, she is positive about her future and how she can find solutions to make sure she and her family have the best possible future! Her ambition is to free her family and fight against various forms of violence and discrimination in the community (GBV, FGM, and RAPE). During the "Fursa" program, she actively participated in various dialogues about gender violence forms and suggested ways to mitigate those forms to achieve social equality. She is also an environmental activist.

Jesca, a 17-year-old from a family of nine in Mufindi District, Iringa Region, was raised in an orphanage with her brother, receiving vital educational support. Through Every Child Tanzania and Mufindi Orphans, she attended Hagafilo Secondary School, earning her secondary school certificate and food leadership skills. She aspires to become a nurse, aiming to assist other vulnerable children in accessing quality education. Alongside her dreams, Jesca enjoys drawing and watching movies, nurturing her creative side. With determination and a heart for service, she embodies resilience and hope for a brighter future, both for herself and those she aims to help.