How Our Scholarship Program Changed Maria's Life

Maria Akinyi was 14 years old when her father lost his job at Dar es Salaam port. Her mother, a casual vegetable vendor in Kariakoo market, could barely cover food for their family of six — let alone school fees. For Maria, the dream of finishing secondary school was beginning to fade.

That changed in May 2023, when a teacher at her school enrolled Maria in Passion Society Organization's Education for All scholarship program. Within weeks, her fees were covered, she had a full set of textbooks, and she was paired with a volunteer tutor who came every Saturday morning.

"I used to stare at the blackboard and wish I could stay," Maria recalls. "Now I don't want to leave. I want to study until I become an engineer and build houses for people like my father."

Maria's story is not unique. Across the 12 schools we partner with in Dar es Salaam's informal settlements, we have supported over 500 students with full or partial scholarships since 2019. The results speak for themselves: 94% of our scholarship recipients complete their academic year, compared to a national dropout rate of over 30% in similar communities.

What makes the program work is not just the financial support — it is the holistic wrap-around approach. Every scholar receives academic mentorship, psychosocial support, and career guidance. Parents are also engaged through monthly workshops on how to support learning at home.

Maria sat her Form 4 national exams last November. She scored a B+ — good enough to qualify for a government university placement. She has applied to study civil engineering. Her mother, who attended the school results day wearing her best dress, could not stop smiling.

For every child like Maria, there are hundreds more waiting. If you would like to sponsor a scholarship, you can do so for as little as $100 per year. Every contribution is matched by our institutional partners, doubling its impact.