Women’s Empowerment: First class of R.I.S.E. program celebrates graduation

On July 28, twenty-four Tanzanian women celebrated an important milestone in their careers – a celebration made possible by Embrace Relief and donors like you.

Nearly two full calendar years after they enrolled at the ADEM School in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, these professional women officially became the first graduating class from Embrace Relief’s Reach. Inspire. Support. Engage. (R.I.S.E.) women’s empowerment program.

R.I.S.E. began in 2021 as a joint creation of Embrace Relief, our partner organization ISHIK Medical and Education Foundation, and ADEM, Tanzania’s leading college for teachers and school administrators. Through the R.I.S.E. program, Embrace Relief provides funding for scholarships that allow high-achieving women at ADEM to pursue advanced education. The scholarships empower these women to receive degrees that provide a path toward leadership roles in the East African country’s educational system.

The first class of 24 women, all of whom had been teachers in the Tanzanian school system prior to joining the R.I.S.E. program, were selected to receive scholarships in early 2021 based on merit. They began to receive their scholarships from Embrace Relief in August of that year. In the two years since, the women have worked diligently to achieve degrees in either School Inspection (DSI) or Education Management and Administration (DEMA). Scholarships were contingent on maintaining a high grade-point average throughout the two-year course. The July 28 ceremony marked their successful completion of the program; with degrees in hand, the graduates will soon move on to positions in Tanzania’s male-dominated educational administration.

R.I.S.E. graduates will have the opportunity to make an enormous impact on their country for years to come. Before this program, the 24 women taught their own classrooms. Now, they’ll have the opportunity to shape the curriculum for all Tanzanian children, bringing their own perspectives and being involved in important decision-making. Perhaps just as importantly, they will serve as role models for younger girls, providing an example of the success all women and girls can achieve if they work for it.

Embrace Relief is proud to continue its support of the R.I.S.E. program, with our second class of scholarship recipients set to begin their courses in late August 2023. To help support the next generation of women leaders in Tanzania, donate to R.I.S.E. by clicking here.

To learn more about the R.I.S.E. women’s empowerment program and some of the women benefiting from the generosity of Embrace Relief donors, click here.