Starfish: Shose

My name is Shose. My age is 35 years old. I live with my husband and two children- a boy and a girl. I am pregnant. My education level is Standard Seven (Grade 6). I didn’t continue my studies because my parents had not some money to take me to secondary school. I go to GHTA because I want to get education. I have learned how to arrange a business and be confident in it. When I started my studies, everything was difficult to be because of language. But after a few months, everything went well. Also learning as an adult has made me confident in what I am learning. Without having a job was a difficult time to raise a family without income. My so far challenge was when I heard my husband was having a mistress and they already had a baby boy. But I calmed down and ignored this news. My future plan is to have my own business. I really like to design different flowers in embroidery. I hope to have a successful business after GHTA graduation. 

Starfish: Basila and Rahma

My name is Basila and my age is 27. I live with my young sisters and brothers and I have one son who is 7 years old. My education level is Form Four (10^th grade). I can’t continue education because I haven’t money, then I was sick. But I will like to continue to study in order to succeed in life. Before GHTA I sewed clothes in order to make money which helped me take care of my family. This job was difficult because the customers were difficult to work with. The biggest challenge in my life so far is disagreement with my husband. I decide to start my own life in order to be free from discrimination of men. After GHTA I want to start my own business and teach sewing. My dream for the future is to be a good business woman. I hope will happen in life.

My name is Rahma Kalisti Kessy. I am 28 years old. I live with my husband. I have two daughters. My education level is form two (grade 8). I wanted to be a part of GHTA because education is everything. The hardest part about being in school as an adult is I forgot everything. The best part is to know how to apply education in my life. The most difficult job I ever had was farming mushrooms. I did this for four months. I plan to apply my GHTA education after graduation I will open business of pouches and handbags. My dreams I want to be a business woman to design shop. My passion is to make pouches. I hope to be a rich business woman. 

Starfish: Margaret and Euster

Margaret with Monika during her home visit

My name is Margaret. My age is 26 years. I live with my children and my sister. I am the leader in my family. My education level is Standard 7 (Grade 6). I didn’t continue because my mother didn’t have money. I decided to be a part of GHTA because I will get education to help my life. The most difficult job I ever had was selling lunch dishes door to door. Carrying the dishes made me tired. I worked from 8am to 11 pm six days per week. After GHTA I will do business with freedom because I have business education and I believe that one day I will be rich. My passion is cooking and I hope to open my own restaurant. 

My name is Euster George. I am 32 years old. I live with my husband and our children. My education level is form 2 (8^th grade). I didn’t continue education because I was sick. I decided to study at GHTA because I don’t have enough education. The most important thing I have learned since being at GHTA is how to write a business plan. The hardest part about being in school as an adult is sometimes children are sick and I have to manage responsibilities. The biggest challenge in my life so far is my child was sick and I did not have money. GHTA influenced my dream because I have confidence to run my own business. My passion is to be a chef at a big restaurant. 

Starfish: Dativa and Agnes

My name is Dativa and I am 35 years old. I live with my husband and children. My education level is Standard Seven (grade 6). I wanted to be a part of GHTA because I know it is a golden chance because with more education I get more opportunities. After starting GHTA it was difficult because I am old and I have a family which is a problem because there are many responsibilities. The most difficult job I ever had was walking a long way by foot to take potatoes from the farm and sell them in town. After GHTA, I hope to open my own food store and be a professional entrepreneur. 

My name is Agnes Peter. I am 46 years old. I live in a family of five people. I am a mother in the family. My education level is Standard Seven (grade 6). I wanted to go to GHTA because I wasn’t learning for a long time. I’m here now and I am happy. Before GHTA I was cutting firewood for cooks. My challenges, my son cannot go to school because I don’t have school fees. I plan to use my education to open a salon business. My dream for the future is to work hard and have my family live well. Because I am a widow I have to work hard and change my life. Thank you.

Starfish: Nairat

My name is Nairat. I’m 25 years old. I live with my husband called Joseph and my son James. I completed Standard Four education (grade three) but failed to continue with my studies because my father passed away and my mother did not have enough money to support my education. I wanted to be a part of GHTA because I want to help and share views with other African girls, especially those who lost their parents. The hardest part about being at school as an adult is to remember all the things that my teachers taught me. The best thing about being at school as an adult is that it has made me happy! I am starting to understand and read English around town and on TV and in class. The biggest challenge is searching for money and job with no positive answers because of my education level. My dream is to educate my son so he can study further. GHTA has influenced my dreams in the sense that my business can grow and I will be able to manage it myself. It has also influenced my passion to learn. 

Starfish: Husna

Vivacious Husna using a showbox as a drum during our 5 year anniversary celebration

My name is Husna Bakari. I am thirty years old. I am married. I have two children, my husband name is Haji. I live in Majengo with my family. My education level is Standard 7 (grade 6).  I did not continue with education because my father refused to pay school fees for me, he said he cannot educate girl, he can educate only boys. I decided to go to GHTA because I needed to continue my education. Since I started here at school, I got some idea while at previous school, I didn’t understand much. But at this moment I am studying how to undergo a business, to speak English and to study. The challenge with studying now is finding someone to care for my child when I am going to school. The best part about school at GHTA is learning how to work and be with different people. After GHTA I will expand my restaurant business and I will be creative with different things. I thank GHTA for the education which gave me the direction of my life. 

Starfish: Amina

My name is Amina Abdallah. I’m 53 years old. I live with my mother and children and grandchildren. My education level is Standard Seven (grade 6). I did not continue with education because I got married. I did like to be a part of GHTA because GHTA helps women to get business education and talk English. I want to learn English to help my grandchildren. The hardest part about being in school as an adult is I have responsibilities that children in school do not have. The best part is I can understand the lessons well. The most difficult job I ever had was to process tobacco. The biggest challenge in my life was the death of my daughter and I was left with her children. It is difficult to care for them. I will apply my GHTA education for understanding my business of making bricks. I hope after school I am going to be a good businesswoman. If I could choose one job with no limitations I would be a big farmer. GHTA influence my dream and teach me many things. 

Starfish: Christina and Magdalena

Christina during Vocations class making tie dye

My name is Christina. I am 26 years old. I live with my mom, my sister, two brothers, and two kids. My education level is standard seven (grade 6). I cannot continue education because my parents did not have money. I want to be a part of GHTA because I know it will change my life. The hardest part about school is spelling words. The most difficult job I ever had was as a cheap laborer. I plan to use my GHTA education to have a business and makes clothes. My dreams for the future is professional fashion designer. 

My name is Magdalena Masamu. I am 35 years old. I live with my family: my husband Japhet, and my children Ivan, Sara, Shalom, and their sister Zaituri. My education level is Standard Seven (grade 6). I did not continue education because I was orphan after the death of my father and mother was unable to care for eight children. I did like to be a part of GHTA because it helps to give business education and how to speak English to the local women. The hardest part about being in school as an adult is it is difficult to have sufficient time to do homework because of many responisbilities. The best part about being in school as an adult is I can concentrate well on the lessons. The most difficult job I ever had was breaking stones. The biggest challenge in my life now is I sleep only a short time every day. I think after settling my life I will get sufficient sleep. I will apply my GHTA education to my business. I sell porridge flour and soy flour. I also deliver milk in my neighborhood every morning. I hope after school I am going to be a big business woman. 

Starfish: Mariam

My name is Mariam. I am 28 years old. I live with my children and my young sister. My education level is Standard 4 (Grade 3). I did not continue school because of the death of my mother. My father also passed away. I want to be a part of GHTA because I love to be an African girl. Our culture is so beautiful to me. Also to get education and knowledge. The hardest part about being in school as an adult is difficult to understand some English words. I have family problems so I lose concentration in my studies.  By the other hand I study hard in order to perform well. The biggest challenge in my life is my husband divorced me. I found a new house and I start a new life. My dream is to be an educated people and big business woman, as well as a rich person. GHTA influenced my dream because I am working with confidence and I know how to control money. 

Starfish: Mary

My name is Mary. I am 27 years old. I live in Njoro neighborhood. I live with my husband and I have two children. My first born is Ezekiel and the second is Anette. My education level is Standard Seven (grade 6). I never got a chance to continue my education because my dad died when I was young and my mum had no income to pay school fees. I decided to come to GHTA because I wanted to learn English and at least improve my education. The hardest part about being in school is that concentration is not good because I think about my family and the responsibilities I have as a mother. The best thing is that the teachers we have are very special, cooperative, and take their time to teach and give a heart even when we don’t understand easily. It’s very nice and we are like sisters. The hardest jobs I ever had was carrying concrete. It’s very tiresome. Coffee harvesting was also hard. You carry heavy loads and sort coffee. One big challenge was when my husband lost his job it was very hard to pay the rent. I started a small business of trusts to help my husband who was by then getting a little income from cheap labor. I will use my education to open a business and create more chances of income to educate my children. I hope to open a big supermarket. GHTA influenced me because I now have basic knowledge and I can do it.

Starfish: Winifrida and Joyce

Winifrida beading in Vocations class

My name is Winifrida. I am 31 years old. I live in Manjengo neighborhood and am living with my daughter Gloria. My education level was Standard Seven (grade 6). I wanted to be a part of GHTA because I want to study hard and to learn more things like how to be good at business. The important things which I get since I start at GHTA is to make good planning of business and how to write good English. The hardest thing which I face as an adult was responsibilities of family like time to do my home jobs. My dream for the future is to raise up my tailoring business that will increase my income and hence improve my life. GHTA help me through education that I get there and help me network with my fellow students and share different ideas that I never heard before. 

Joyce and me

My name is Joyce. I am 37 years old. I have three children, a son and two daughters. My first born is Veronica and my second born is Victoria and last born is Michael. My education is Standard Seven (grade 6). I did not continue education because my parents were not able to pay school fees. Since I started at GHTA, I learned many things I will use in my life. The most difficult job I ever had before GHTA was break stones and prostitution. Now I work as a maid for a doctor. My GHTA education will help me to plan my general future. GHTA taught me to be more creative, give hope, as well as confidence. 

Starfish: Salma

My name is Salma Juma. I am 30 years old. I live with my husband and two children. My education level is Standard 7 (Grade 6). I decided to come to GHTA because I want to learn English and I like education.  The most important this is self-confidence at GHTA. The most difficult job I ever had was carrying stones. The biggest challenge in my life so far is researching a job. I want to open a business that is a vegetarian restaurant. I want a business that is mine. I like English because I can use it to speak to different people.

Starfish: Zaina and Teresa

Zaina doing henna for us at her home visit

My name is Zaina. I am 40 years old. I live with my husband and children. My education level is Standard 7 (Grade 6).  I am at GHTA because I want to know English language and to learn how to manage a business. The hardest part about being in school is understanding English. The best part is getting knowledge. The most difficult job I ever had was breaking stones.  My dreams for the future is to expand my business of Henna painting. I want to have a famous business. 

Teresa in tie-dye class

My name is Teresa. I am 46 years old. I live with my son. My education is Standard Seven (grade 6) because my parents not have money to pay school fees. I want to be a part of GHTA because I want to read English, have confidence to do business and also help me understand profit and loss. It is not difficult because I like to study. I used to sell clothes door to door. I feel happy to study because I have a big age and did not know if I could study again. The most difficult job I ever had was making gravel. The challenge now is to study when I don’t have a job. After graduation, I plan to open a restaurant. I have started to cook tea and maandazi (doughnuts). My dream is to be a good entrepreneur and I will get good life because I have knowledge.