A Housemaid’s Path Back to School
“My heart ached every time I saw children in school uniforms walking past the house. I always knew I belonged in school.”
Growing up in Dodoma, in central Tanzania, Agnes (9) dreamed of attending school, but life had other plans. Living with her financially struggling grandmother, who could barely afford the daily necessities, school remained only a dream. Despite knowing how much Agnes longed for an education, her grandmother had no choice but to send her far away, to Bagamoyo to work as a housemaid.
When Agnes arrived at her employer’s home, she tried her best to adapt. Her employer, Mama Kazurii, noticed right away that Agnes was too young to be working. She saw how Agnes's eyes lit up whenever she spoke about school, and how eager she was to learn.
After discovering an advertisement for a new project that helps children return to school, Mama Kazurii took action: “I enrolled Agnes at Nia Njema Primary School, and she is already one of the top students in class. Now she dreams about becoming a Maths teacher and inspiring other children. We must never give up on education. A child should be sent to school, not to work”
With the support from Strømme Foundation, the local partner OCODE and Grieg Foundation, girls like Agnes can return to school to pursue their dreams.
“I want to use my voice to speak up for other children facing similar challenges. I want all children, regardless of background, to have the opportunity to learn” says Agnes.
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