We are so excited for the upcoming graduation of Monica, Shalomu, and Allina! The first recipients of the Daughters of Toleza Scholarship will graduate Bakhita Secondary School on May 28th. Founding Board members Don Simms and Beverly Winterscheid will be returning to Malawi to attend the graduation and celebrate this milestone! Like us on Facebook to follow their journey.
What started from leftover souvenir money in 2010 after a study trip to Toleza Farms has turned into a small but powerful non-profit making a direct impact on the lives of young women in rural Malawi. This was only possible because of the support from our donors, the dedication of our Malawi field team, the generosity of our partner organizations (Toleza Farms, Center for Nature and Leadership, and Bakhita Secondary School), and the hard work of our current and previous board members.
Say Hello to New Board Member Jean Kayira
In April we welcomed Jean Kayira, PhD, to the DTS Board. Jean is a native of Malawi and received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Malawi - Chancellor College in Zomba. She worked for several years in education in Malawi before completing her Masters and Doctorate degrees in the US at Clark University and University of Saskatchewan, respectively. She is currently a faculty member in the Environmental Studies Department at Antioch University in Keene, NH.
Jean's research interests include notions of sustainability, youth education, and indigenous knowledge. Jean has already been crucial in helping us communicate with the Malawian field team and we are confident that Jean's unique experience and education will help us further the DTS mission in a culturally sensitive manner.
Malawi Trip 2016
Founding Board members Don and Beverly will make the long but rewarding journey back to the Warm Hearth of Africa in May. They will attend Bakhita Secondary School's graduation and celebrate the success of Monica, Shalomu, and Allina. They will also work with the Malawi field team and interview the scholarship candidates. Of course, there will also be plenty of time for sightseeing!
Fifty girls applied for the scholarship this year! Don, Beverly, and the local team will interview ten of the girls, who will also have to pass Bakhita's entrance exam. DTS hopes to select two to three scholarship recipients for the upcoming school year.
Did you know you could support girls' education while shopping on Amazon? Designate Daughters of Toleza as your charity on Amazon Smile and a percentage of your purchase is donated to Daughters of Toleza!
