The Sega Girls School   Nurturing Minds in Africa is working with its Tanzanian partner, Secondary Education for Girls Advancement (SEGA), to construct and develop a residential secondary school for bright, motivated Tanzanian girls who otherwise would not have access to secondary education due to extreme poverty.   Founded in 2008, there are currently 144 students boarding at the school, 84 in Forms 1, 2 & 3 (Grades 8 - 10) , and 60 students in two transitional remedial classes. We aim to be educating 200 girls at the school by 2015.   The Sega Girls School is non-sectarian, admitting girls of all faiths.   Follow this link to read more about the Sega Students and their education >> The Need   Due to poverty, many girls drop out of school before they even finish primary (elementary) school.  In some cases they lose their parents to Malaria, HIV/AIDS or other diseases. Others are just too poor to afford uniforms, books or transport to school. Others have such a high burden of household chores at home, or in someone elses home, working to support themselves, that there is no time for school. Follow this link to read about why we are educating girls, and why in Tanzania Selection The Sega Girls Schools recruits girls (ages 12-15) from the local Morogoro district and from the rural Iringa district in the southwest of Tanzania. It receives at least twice as many applications as there are places for students, increasing every year as more villagers hear about our school. With funds for only 30 girls in each class, the selection process is always very tough.   Only girls who have no other options available to return to school (e.g. their families are simply too poor to afford decent food, transport or uniforms at a public school), and who are passionate about wanting to go back to school are chosen. Follow this link to read more about the student selection process The Current Sega Student Classes  The "Tunarudi Shuleni" ("We're Going Back to School") Day Program is an 18 month-long remedial day program that prepares the students for education at the secondary school level.  The students: embark on an intensive program of English, since all subjects at the secondary level are taught in English  and are prepared for the national Standard VII exam that is a requirement for entry into secondary school in Tanzania. In July 2012, 60 new students joined the Tunarudi Shuleni Day Program, and are settling in to life at the Sega Girls School.   The "Moonshine Class" joined the Sega Girls School Tunarudi Shuleni Day Program in January 2011, and like the two classes preceding them, are embarking on their journey out of poverty. They completed the National Standard VII exams in September 2011, and have joined the Sega School as boarders. The "Bright Stars Class" joined the Sega School in January 2011 after achieving a magnificent 85% pass rate in the Standard VII exam, and are now in Form 2.       The "Sunshine Class" graduated from the remedial program in November 2009, and were our first class to occupy the new all-purpose building. Today these students are in Form III (10th grade).