Young girls are often reluctant to take leadership positions and daring to do great things. This might be because of fear or not knowing the starting point. Recognizing the immense potential and leadership qualities within young girls, Get Started Get Moving Partnered with the Sokoine University of Agriculture Students Organization (SUASO) and Organized a Purposeful Girls Seminar on 11th January, 2020. The seminar aimed to cultivate a space for personal growth, skills development, Empowerment, and inspire young ladies at the University.

Participants during the seminar

The Guest of honor was Dr. Tulia Ackson, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Other speakers were Prof. Raphael Chibunda, SUA Vice Chancellor, Prof Felister Mombo, and Dr. Doreen Ndossy both from SUA, Madame. Lusako Mwakiluma from Mzumbe University, Ms. Jenipher Tairo SUASO Prime Minister & founder Get Started Get Moving Organization, and Mr. Simon Chami (Author and Founder Ufaulu Project).

In his welcoming speech, the Vice Chancellor of SUA, Prof. Raphael Chibunda, encouraged the ladies to be daring and focused. He insisted that ladies can contribute to the family’s economy only if they are focused and work smart.

On her side Dr. Tulia shared her experience as a student and what it took for her to get to the current position. She mentioned that she went through ordinary schools and managed to make it. She urged the girls to be brilliant, take up leadership positions, and have role models to look up to. She added that they should start preparing for the kind of life they want to live and use their freedom to develop the skills not taught in class. Finally, she insisted the participants to beware of time wasters.

Ms. Jenipher insisted on importance of believing in oneself, daring, and showing the world what you can do. She added that as the first female Prime Minister of SUASO, she could get there because she dared to vie for the post of vice President to show what she could do. She encouraged other ladies to contest for different leadership positions and learn from there.

 

Other speakers had crucial messages for the participants; Prof Felister Mombo spoke on creativity and the importance of thinking outside the box, she encouraged the participants to have a plus and see how they can use their environment and the available resources to their advantage. On the other hand, Dr. Doreen Ndossy spoke on Relationships and how ladies can be safe in the university by avoiding unhealthy relationships and focusing on their goals. In addition to that, Madame Mwakiluma spoke on Believing in oneself and Entrepreneurship. She mentioned that she started work at Mzumbe as an office assistant and managed to start her studies and reach the level of a PhD, she urges the participants to work hard, commit themselves, and never give up on their dreams because they can be achieved. On his side, Mr. Simon Chami spoke on the Importance of leaving a mark wherever you set footsteps and with this, he encouraged the participants to look for opportunities to benefit the community around them.

The participants were happy and grateful for the opportunity and requested for similar events to be done regularly.