From One SEGA Student to the Next: A Mother’s Day Story of Legacy

Unlike most parents, when Subira dropped her daughter off at SEGA for the first time, her heart wasn’t just filled with pride—it was filled with memory, and the quiet power of a full-circle moment.

Years earlier, Subira arrived at SEGA as a teenage mother, searching for a second chance. As a member of SEGA’s inaugural class in 2008, SEGA gave Subira more than an education—it gave her confidence, safety, sisterhood, and the belief that her story didn’t have to end before it began.

Now, as a mother, she is passing that legacy on. This Mother’s Day, we honor Subira—and women like her, whose courage to dream beyond their circumstances is now shaping the futures of their daughters, alongside institutions like SEGA and Nurturing Minds that make those dreams possible.

The Gift of a Second Chance

Subira is one of six siblings, raised by a single mother in Morogoro. After their house collapsed during the rainy season, she, her mother, and two younger siblings were forced to share a one bedroom rental apartment. To help put food on the table, Subira and her sisters sold firewood and tomatoes at the local market supporting their family through difficult times.

When her own mother heard about a new school through a community meeting, she urged Subira to apply.

“When I first heard about SEGA, I thought, wow—this is my chance. I felt excited and determined to take the entrance exam. I felt like SEGA was offering something just for girls like me, and that made me feel special, to be chosen, to have a second chance at my education.”

Subira joined SEGA as a teen mom with a 6-month-old baby, Naghma. She was among just 30 girls in SEGA’s borrowed classroom before the boarding school had even been built. She left her daughter in her mother’s care so she could pursue her education. At SEGA, she found strength and joy in both academics and creativity. She gravitated toward entrepreneurship, bookkeeping, and commerce, and shined in singing, traditional dance, and fashion shows.

Though the skills she learned in entrepreneurship class serve her well today in running her own salon, what Subira cherishes most is how SEGA cared for her daughter too. With the support of SEGA, Naghma was enrolled in primary school so that Subira could focus on her education knowing her daughter had a strong foundation.

The Joys of Motherhood

Today, that baby—Naghma—is a SEGA student herself. Subira beams when she talks about her.

“When I see her in the SEGA uniform, I smile. I think to myself how amazing it is that she is going to a school that was so impactful in my life. It just brings me a lot of joy. I always tell her: take this opportunity seriously, study harder, and go farther, so you can be a role model for your younger siblings.”

“Becoming a mother helped me understand who I am and where I belong. It showed me my place in the world, in my family, and among the people around me. It allowed me to see that I have a responsibility to lead and set a great example for my children.”

Subira sees raising her daughter as a sacred responsibility. She calls Naghma “special”—not just because she is her firstborn, but because of everything they’ve been through together. She wants her to understand what an opportunity SEGA is and to grow into a young woman who leads by example, gives back, and lifts others along the way.

And she is. Naghma is now one of SEGA’s brightest students and is on track to graduate this fall. The path her daughter walks may be familiar, but her footing is stronger. While Subira once balanced motherhood and uncertainty, her daughter is focused on building a future rooted in opportunity and the education to make her dream of becoming a lawyer possible.

The Ripple Effect

Thanks to all the support she has received along the way, and her unwavering commitment to succeed, Subira has since built a new life: married, with four children, running her own salon business doing hair, makeup, and selling beauty products. But, she isn’t done dreaming.

Subira now envisions opening a beauty school of her own, where she can train the next generation of young women in the skills they need to become successful entrepreneurs. Her dream is about more than beauty, it’s about creating pathways to independence, and opportunity for her community.

Subira’s life is a story of what’s possible when girls are given support at the moment they need it most. This Mother’s Day, her journey reminds us that when we invest in a girl’s education, we don’t just change her future—we plant the seeds that break generational cycles.

To the donors, mentors, and SEGA teachers who made her story possible, Subira says:

“I thank you for not only giving me a second chance, but for giving both Naghma and me the opportunity to become more. I hope SEGA continues to grow and reach more girls in the years to come—girls like me, girls like Naghma, girls with dreams and the determination to achieve them.”

Subira’s children