CLASS OF 2023

meet the girls

the next generation

OF LEADERS

Damella

Grade: KG2
Hawega Program: Year 2
Damella is a happy girl with a fantastic smile! She loves to play with the other children in her village. Damella's mother became pregnant with her while unmarried. In accordance with Datooga traditions, when a child is born to an unmarried woman, the child is taken care of by the maternal family. She was one of the first, brave Hawega students in 2022. We have watched her excel in school over the last three semesters and are so excited for her bright future ahead!
Makili

Grade: KG2
Hawega Program: Year 2
Makili was born into a traditional Datooga family. She joined our program in 2022 as one of the first five girls. Her father, who is approaching 100 years old, is unable to work and Makili's mother is responsible for taking care of all four children. Without a sponsorship Makili would be at high risk to be married young. Instead, she is enjoying her second year at school, learning, and having fun with her friends! We are forever grateful for her bravery as one of the first girls in her tribe to go to boarding school.
Neema

Grade: 1
Hawega Program: Year 2
Neema is one of the first five girls to join the Hawega program. There are thirteen children in her family. Two of her older sisters were married young due to traditional beliefs. Her younger sister, Dagemnyeni, also joined the Hawega program this year. The parents wanted both of these girls to succeed long-term and have a brighter future. Neema loves being at school with her friends and has already grown and learned so much in the last 18 months. She is a leader in the group helping to look after the younger girls.
Udamuqu

Grade: 1
Hawega Program: Year 2
Udamuqu is currently enrolled in her second year at Silverleaf Academy through the Hawega Foundation. She was one of the first five girls to join the program. She grew up in a traditional lifestyle and is one of eight children in her family. Her opportunity to get an education is seen as a sign of hope for her family. Udamuqu's mother travels at least five kilometers each day to find water for drinking and washing, leaving Udamuqu responsible for taking care of her young sister and brother. The family struggles with basic needs such as food, so school has not been a priority. Your sponsorship will enable Udamuqu to attend school and help lift her family out of poverty.
Ulenga

Grade: 1
Hawega Program: Year 2
Ulenga is a funny girl with a huge personality! She is currently in her second year at Silverleaf Academy and was one of our original five students. She was born into family with three wives and eight children. This year, her sister, Daqwashiyi, is attending school as well. She was so excited to head back to school this year and is one of the leaders among the group.

Dagemnyeni

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Dagemnyeni is a happy and funny girl from a big family of twelve. Her sister, Neema, was one of the first five girls to join the Hawega program in 2022. Two of her older sisters were married young due to traditional beliefs and did not have the opportunity to go to school. Her Hawega sponsorship will help prevent this young girl from experiencing early marriage like her sisters. Her and Neema are currently boarding at Silverleaf together.
Dagoduw

Grade: KG2
Hawega Program: Year 1
A calm and happy girl from a large family with eight children. The family are pastoralists with only a few cows and goats. A severe drought in 2017 killed almost all of their animals. The remaining few are used to cover the family’s basic needs. Her father, Gwadenu, heard about the Hawega Foundation's sponsorship program through word of mouth in the village. Him and his wife were immediately interested. The Hawega team met with the family to explain the harmful effects of FGM. The family readily agreed to abandon FGM in return for her scholarship. Dagoduw attended her first day of school in January 2023.
Damasti

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Damasti lives with her mother and maternal grandparents. Her dad was sent to jail over a cattle dispute leaving her mom with nothing. The Hawega team heard about this difficult case and visited with Damasti’s mom. She was overjoyed to hear about this opportunity for her daughter and agreed to not practice FGM in her family.
Damawasa

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Three years ago, the Hawega team met with her family one week before she was supposed to be cut. They worked diligently to educate the family about the harmful effects of FGM. While initially difficult to understand, the mother agreed to commit to change & Hawega agreed to sponsor her education.
Dang'wega

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
A lovely five year old girl from a family of farmers with seven children. Her father lives a pastoral lifestyle taking care of his 10 cows while her mother fetches water and herds goats. Dang'wega stays at home looking after her younger sisters and brothers at instead of going to school. Hawega Foundation visited with the family and explained the benefits of providing education for girls in the community as well as the effects of FGM to girls. The family was willing to walk away from this practice in exchange for a scholarship. They were very grateful for the opportunity and she started school in January 2023.

Daqwashiyi

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Daqwashiyi is the younger sister of Ulenga, one of the first five Hawega Foundation students in 2022. Last year Daqwashiyi was not yet of school age to attend. Due to conflict in their father’s family, both girls were living with their grandmother and helping with household chores. The girls were at a high risk of being subjected to FGM as grandparents and elders strongly encourage tribal customs not be abandoned. By partnering with the Hawega Foundation these girls were spared from FGM and attending Silverleaf Academy together.
Udaguhanga

Grade: KG2
Hawega Program: Year 1
She is a happy girl from a pastoralist family with 15 children and 3 wives. The whole family lives in a single boma. Her parents heard about the Hawega Foundation and were eager for the opportunity, but they worried about their daughter losing her Datooga culture. The team explained in detail that our objective is not to abandon the Datooga culture, only this harmful practice. The family understood and Udaguhanga started school in January 2023.
Udagutayega

Grade: KG2
Hawega Program: Year 1
A six year old girl with boundless energy. She comes from an extended family with two wives and seven children. Her name translates to “a child born when a baby goat dies in the family”. As is customary in Datooga culture, children are named according to the events that occur on their birthday. When Udagutayega was born, all the family's goats died due to a Salmonellosis outbreak. Currently, her father depends on the few cows he has left to provide for the family. Given their challenging economic situation, education cannot be a priority for the family. The family partnered with the Hawega Foundation and she started school in January of 2023.
Udaskweri

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Udaskweri is a very happy and personable girl who is always smiling. She was born before marriage and as a tribal tradition she must live with her grandmother. Hawega Foundation met with her grandmother three years ago. She was eager to give her granddaughter this opportunity as she cannot afford school fees herself. She promised not to perform FGM and Udaskweri officially joined our program January 2023.
Ulakta

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Ulakta is a funny and cheerful girl. She comes from a family with ten children and two wives. She is the daughter of the family. As a result of her family's poverty, her brothers did not have the opportunity to attend school. Her family partnered with the Hawega Foundation and agreed not to perform FGM so that Ulakta could have the chance that the boys did not. Today, she represents the family's hope for a brighter future and a chance to improve their lives.

Uspitari

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Uspitari is the youngest child in a single-parent family with two girls and one boy. Her sister was married early due to life difficulties that led their parents to separate, leaving the heavy burden of caring for the children on their mother. The Hawega Foundation visited their family when Uspitari was one year old and spoke with her mother. This visit was fortuitous, as Uspitari was about to be circumcised. The Hawega team provided many tips against FGM, and as a result, her mother promised to abandon the practice in exchange for an education sponsorship for her daughter.
Udaghorjoda

Grade: KG2
Hawega Program: Year 1
Udaghorjoda is a lively girl from a large pastoralist family with three wives and thirteen children. Due to the Datoga tribe's beliefs, girls are at high risk of being subjected to FGM, as grandparents encourage adherence to tribal customs. The Hawega Foundation visited her family and educated them on the benefits of educating girls in the community, as well as the effects of FGM. The family was willing to abandon the practice in exchange for a scholarship. They were grateful for the opportunity and allowed their daughter to go to school.
Udageleda

Grade: KG2
Hawega Program: Year 1
Udageleda’s parents were not aware of the importance of educating a girl. They believed she was destined for marriage and childbirth. However, the Hawega Foundation intervened, educating them about the value of a girl, the effects of early marriage and FGM, and the benefits of sending a girl to school. They were very pleased to receive this education from the Hawega team and decided to send their daughter to school with complete trust.
Manang’i

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Manang'i is a girl from a pastoralist family with ten children: three sisters and seven brothers. Her father passed away five years ago, leaving her mother solely responsible for all ten children. The Hawega Foundation visited to assess the family's situation and found that she was at high risk of being forced into early marriage due to the family's poverty. The Foundation intervened and convinced her mother to allow Manang'i to be sponsored for her education. Thankfully, her mother agreed and allowed her daughter to go to school.
Udamedeba

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Udamedeba is a happy 5-year-old from a pastoralist family. She is one of six children, three of whom are girls. Her parents learned about the Hawega Foundation's sponsorship and its efforts to educate the community about the significance of education for girls and the negative effects of FGM. They were pleased to hear this and were eager to allow their daughter to take advantage of such an opportunity.

Udang’alda

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Udang’alda is a joyful 4-year-old girl and the eldest of two children in the Seburi family. The Hawega Foundation met her mother three years ago, just as Udang’alda was about to be circumcised. The Hawega team explained the opportunity to prevent the act of FGM and offered to sponsor her education. Her mother was eager to seize this opportunity for her daughter.
Udamakil

Grade: KG2
Hawega Program: Year 1
Udamakil is a happy and cheerful girl from an extended family with three wives and nine children, six of whom are girls and three boys. Her name, Udamakil, means "not eating," as it is the tradition in the Datooga culture to name children based on an event occurring on their birthday. She was born during a period when the family was suffering from hunger due to poverty. Her older brothers and sisters did not attend school because the family could not afford the fees. After her family learned about the educational opportunities provided by the Hawega Foundation, they decided to partner with the organization. Consequently, Udamakil is set to join school in January 2024.
Udamshungulu

Grade: KG2
Hawega Program: Year 1
Udamshungulua is a 5-year-old girl and the youngest of four children in the Nyanda family. Her older sisters and brothers did not have the chance to attend school due to their parents' inability to afford school contributions, despite having a few livestock earned as bride price from their daughters' weddings. The Nyanda family is grateful to the Hawega Foundation for providing the opportunity to educate their daughter and for helping them move away from the outdated practice of FGM.
Uchamu

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Uchamu is a calm and happy girl from an extended family with 13 children, consisting of 10 girls and 3 boys. Her older sisters were married young as the family sought to acquire cows from wealthy families due to their poverty. Her parents learned about the Hawega Foundation last year and became interested in the opportunity after observing that their married children still suffered difficulties in life despite being married into wealthy families. Deciding to take a different path for Uchamu, her parents chose to send her to school to brighten the family's future.
Daghajati

Grade: KG1
Hawega Program: Year 1
Daghajati is the only girl among her ten siblings to have the opportunity to attend school, as her female siblings are already married. After her parents learned about the opportunity to choose education over FGM, they saw it as a great fortune for at least one child to become the light of the family.