Girls in over 50 secondary schools empowered on entrepreneurship

GIRLS in over 50 secondary schools accross the country have benefited from the Girls Entrepreneurship Camp (GEC) initiative.
Launched last year by the Foundation for Educational and Environmental Advancement of Tanzanians (FEET), it aims to provide girls essential skills for success in school, home, and future careers.
The program was designed by Rania Nasser, a Tanzanian student at UC Berkeley and co-founder of FEET.
Rania says the initiative provides girls between the ages of 14 and 18 with the necessary tools and knowledge to become successful entrepreneurs.
In Tanzania, young women face significant barriers to education, employment, and entrepreneurship due to discrimination and traditional gender roles.

She designed the programme after recognized the need to prepare young women for the challenges of entrepreneurship and teach them the process of starting and running a business.

The GEC spans over three days, during which participants work in teams and are mentored by experienced coaches.
On the third day, students present and defend their solutions before a panel of industry experts, giving them a taste of what it’s like to pitch their business ideas in the real world.

The program begins with team selection, where students participate in activities that allow them to learn about the skills, capabilities, and personalities of their potential team members.
They then delve into the world of product design, learning how famous companies create products that people love. Using design thinking, they create three original concepts that solve a challenge.

Throughout the program, participants learn valuable skills such as leadership, communication, conflict resolution, forming a business team, determining business feasibility, conducting market research, determining product price, calculating costs, business proposal development, budgeting, inventory control, marketing, and presenting their ideas.
They also learn basic money management skills through fun games and create a pricing strategy and finance plan for their team’s product.

By the end of the program, each team will have written a comprehensive business plan and worked with a designer to visualize their product.
These young women are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to launch their own businesses, giving them the ability to earn a living and contribute to their families and communities.

The GEC is not just about entrepreneurship; it’s about empowering young women to challenge traditional gender roles and to have equal access to education, resources, and opportunities.
By investing in young women’s economic empowerment and skills development, we can drive progress on gender equality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth in Tanzania and beyond.
FEET’s Girls Entrepreneurship Camp is a game-changer for young women in Tanzania, providing them with the tools and knowledge to become successful entrepreneurs, break down barriers, and transform their communities.