Getruda: Education helped me see that I can influence positive change in the world

6 minute read

Education has helped me to become the woman I am today, and to believe in my own potential.

My name is Getruda and my education journey started in the rural Mwanza region of Tanzania. I was living with my dad and stepmom, very far away from my primary school, walking two hours back and forth every day. I didn’t always have shoes, so I remember traveling the long distance barefoot. 

One day, my school skirt tore from my hips all the way to my knee. I asked my dad to buy me a new one, but he didn’t have enough money. I couldn’t afford to miss any school, so I decided to go anyway, with my torn skirt tied at the end so it didn’t blow away in the wind. 

Later that year, Sir Ruben, a new teacher at my school, bought me a new uniform with my dad’s approval. It was the first time I had been offered a helping hand from somebody else.

The next day, I walked to school in a perfect, beautiful new uniform. It didn’t just represent a uniform, I was wearing my confidence and walking with confidence, going to school and feeling just like everybody else. 

When I finished primary school, I moved to a new city, Bagamoyo, and started at secondary school. My sister was paying my school fees, but each year, she had more and more responsibilities. I knew I wanted to continue with my education, but I was unsure whether my sister could keep paying my fees while supporting her own children. My situation felt very precarious.

I first heard about CAMFED when I was in Form 2, in my second year of secondary school. Madam Saveline, who was responsible for CAMFED-supported students at my school, realized I needed help and recommended me for support.

Joining a fearless pan-African sisterhood 

In 2016 after I graduated secondary school, I joined the CAMFED Association — a huge sisterhood of young women leaders educated with CAMFED support. 

Now it’s no longer just me. It is us, together.

Me and my CAMFED Association sisters. We love a group selfie!

Just a few months after my school graduation, an opportunity came up to study towards an International Baccalaureate at the United World College in Eswatini. 

I went with three other young women in the CAMFED Association to Dar es Salaam to interview for the opportunity. I remember that night we stayed up late memorizing physics and encouraging each other! 

As a girl who came from a very rural area with few opportunities, college life was very different. There were so many people from different countries, different cultures, different everything. At first I felt like I didn’t belong there and I was struggling. But among those supporting me was CAMFED, keeping me going with financial and emotional support. 

Paying it forward to the next generation of young women

I graduated from the United World College after two years and returned home to Tanzania in 2019. There, I got an opportunity to intern at the CAMFED office in Dar es Salaam. I was part of an outreach program to mentor girls who had dropped out of school due to poverty, early pregnancy, and other factors. I shared my own journey, helping to inspire and encourage them to return to school with support from CAMFED.

I still wanted to go further with my education, so I successfully applied for a degree in Psychology at Luther College in Iowa, USA with CAMFED’s support. 

While I was in the USA, I established a group called the Brilliant Girls Premium, to help young women in Tanzania access higher education opportunities and prepare for university applications. It was amazing to connect with sisters back home and support them on their path to success. 

In 2025, I graduated with the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in the USA and headed home in 2026. Since my arrival home, I have had various opportunities to give back to my community. 

I got to speak with high school students about social media and mental well-being. Together we explored why social media feels addictive, the psychology behind doom-scrolling, social comparison, as well as practical strategies to navigate social media with intention and purpose. 

Here I am leading a session on social media and mental well-being at a secondary school. Photo credit: Safehands studio/Mental Health Africa

In 2026, I was officially elected as a CAMFED Association Ambassador Chairperson for Tanzania. In this role, I support the facilitators and moderators of regular online discussions across the CAMFED Association network, helping members build skills in storytelling, entrepreneurship, and staying safe online.

I also support CAMFED Association members in highlighting their impact and crafting strong applications for competitive opportunities, especially in higher education. I continue to support tertiary students on strategies of career development before graduation and child protection and safeguarding issues.  

Together, we CAMFED Association sisters bring hope to our communities by using our own resources to provide school fees, uniforms, shoes, and other essentials, so that children have the confidence to go to school and dream big.

I got the opportunity to connect with more than 100 of my fellow CAMFED Association leaders from across Africa at the 2026 CAMA Summit in Accra, Ghana. It was a very transformative experience for me, both as a young leader and professional. 

Here I am (center, back row) with CAMFED Association leaders from across Africa at the 2026 CAMA Summit in Accra, Ghana.

One message from the summit that echoes in my ears is that our ability to bring other people with us comes from remembering where we come from. This hit home for me because I want every child to grow up in an environment where psychological well-being is prioritized and where they are safe from abuse, teenage pregnancy and early marriage. 

I strive to continue using my education to spread awareness about child abuse and mental health challenges. I want to help communities normalize conversations about their mental health, just like they would speak about physical health, without shame.