Ester Ramsi's College Education
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*scroll to the bottom for updates*
Ester Ramsi is an 18-year old woman living in Tanzania, in need of financial support to continue her education. Ester is one of eight children in her family and the second to attend college. She has completed primary and secondary school and is now pursuing a two-year certificate (comparable to an associate’s degree in the U.S.) at Tropical Center University in Arusha, Tanzania. Ester was originally able to move from her hometown of the Mbeya region to continue her education, but since, her financial support system has crumbled due to alcoholism and separation in the family. Because of these unfortunate circumstances, and the fact that Ester is not permitted to hold an outside job while staying in school accommodations, she does not have enough money to pay tuition.
If Ester cannot pay the required tuition and housing fees by the end of October, she will have no choice but to drop out and return home. Ester’s initial plan was to attend Tropical Center University, an IATA (International Air Transport Association) Regional Training Partner, for 2 years to obtain a Foundation in Travel and Tourism diploma. Ester needs this diploma to realize her dream of becoming a professional tour guide, and eventually, work in the social justice field to fight for girls’ and women’s access to education in Tanzania.
Here is a message from Ester to you:
“Once I get a degree I would like to be a professional tour guide and open up free college and school so that I can help other girls and women like me. I want to encourage girls to fight against bad culture like wife-beating and early marriage. More importantly, I want to fight for equality so that in the future, women can go to school and be equal to men. I believe together we can change and help each other.”
“I don’t know what to say or how to express my feelings because I will be very very happy and thankful. This is very important and a huge dream for me. I believe your support won’t end only here but even help other girls or women who have been passing through the same thing as I. This is because through your support, the education which I will get will allow me to encourage and educate other girls. I want to tell other women that everything is possible. They can do the things that men do, and more than that, we can do it together. So I will be very thankful for the support which I will get. May our God bless you and give you more than what you provide.”
My connection to Ester:
During my gap year last year, I traveled with a student group to East Africa. We spent a week volunteering at the KCEM Adult Education Centre in Meserani , Tanzania. This is where I met Ester. Ester was incredibly friendly and quickly became a central figure in our group at KCEM. She was eager to show us the ropes at KCEM and went out of her way to make us feel welcome. Ever since we left Tanzania last November, Ester has kept in touch with the whole group. Ester shared her situation with me a couple of months ago. Since then, we have been corresponding about how best to keep her on this path to a bright future. I want to return the generosity Ester showed me when I visited her. She has too much passion and capability for pursuing this education to be cut short due to unfair circumstances.
Here is my volunteer group with Ester. Ester is in the middle, wearing a yellow dress.
Details:
Tuition for two years at the certificate level and housing at Tropical Centre University is 5 million Tanzanian shillings, which converts to 2,155 US Dollars. Ester needs to pay the 5 million shillings by the end of October, or she will have to pack up and return home to the Mbeya region.
Because GoFundMe does not link to bank accounts in Tanzania, I will be collecting the money and forwarding 100% of the funds to Ester’s bank account. I will pay for the wire transfer fee, so all of your donations will be going directly to Ester.
**UPDATE**
We raised $1,260 this fall!! I sent the money to Ester's pastor, Dr. Jonas Michael, and confirmed that all the money got to Ester and was used for tuition. Because of your support, Ester was able to stay in school for another semester. We've been messaging back and forth since the fall, and she wants you all to know, "All thanks to you and other people who have helped me to be at college. I really just don't know how to repay you back, but all I can say is thank you so much. May our God bless you."
(Ester's class rankings)
Ester was ranked top in her program this February, with an average grade of 86%. She is working incredibly hard. Now, she needs to make another tuition payment by the month of April. We need to raise the remaining $895 in order for Ester to finish this year (school years in Tanzania go through the Summer in the U.S.) and get her degree. Any amount helps!
Ester Ramsi is an 18-year old woman living in Tanzania, in need of financial support to continue her education. Ester is one of eight children in her family and the second to attend college. She has completed primary and secondary school and is now pursuing a two-year certificate (comparable to an associate’s degree in the U.S.) at Tropical Center University in Arusha, Tanzania. Ester was originally able to move from her hometown of the Mbeya region to continue her education, but since, her financial support system has crumbled due to alcoholism and separation in the family. Because of these unfortunate circumstances, and the fact that Ester is not permitted to hold an outside job while staying in school accommodations, she does not have enough money to pay tuition.
If Ester cannot pay the required tuition and housing fees by the end of October, she will have no choice but to drop out and return home. Ester’s initial plan was to attend Tropical Center University, an IATA (International Air Transport Association) Regional Training Partner, for 2 years to obtain a Foundation in Travel and Tourism diploma. Ester needs this diploma to realize her dream of becoming a professional tour guide, and eventually, work in the social justice field to fight for girls’ and women’s access to education in Tanzania.
Here is a message from Ester to you:
“Once I get a degree I would like to be a professional tour guide and open up free college and school so that I can help other girls and women like me. I want to encourage girls to fight against bad culture like wife-beating and early marriage. More importantly, I want to fight for equality so that in the future, women can go to school and be equal to men. I believe together we can change and help each other.”
“I don’t know what to say or how to express my feelings because I will be very very happy and thankful. This is very important and a huge dream for me. I believe your support won’t end only here but even help other girls or women who have been passing through the same thing as I. This is because through your support, the education which I will get will allow me to encourage and educate other girls. I want to tell other women that everything is possible. They can do the things that men do, and more than that, we can do it together. So I will be very thankful for the support which I will get. May our God bless you and give you more than what you provide.”
My connection to Ester:
During my gap year last year, I traveled with a student group to East Africa. We spent a week volunteering at the KCEM Adult Education Centre in Meserani , Tanzania. This is where I met Ester. Ester was incredibly friendly and quickly became a central figure in our group at KCEM. She was eager to show us the ropes at KCEM and went out of her way to make us feel welcome. Ever since we left Tanzania last November, Ester has kept in touch with the whole group. Ester shared her situation with me a couple of months ago. Since then, we have been corresponding about how best to keep her on this path to a bright future. I want to return the generosity Ester showed me when I visited her. She has too much passion and capability for pursuing this education to be cut short due to unfair circumstances.
Here is my volunteer group with Ester. Ester is in the middle, wearing a yellow dress. Details:
Tuition for two years at the certificate level and housing at Tropical Centre University is 5 million Tanzanian shillings, which converts to 2,155 US Dollars. Ester needs to pay the 5 million shillings by the end of October, or she will have to pack up and return home to the Mbeya region.
Because GoFundMe does not link to bank accounts in Tanzania, I will be collecting the money and forwarding 100% of the funds to Ester’s bank account. I will pay for the wire transfer fee, so all of your donations will be going directly to Ester.
**UPDATE**
We raised $1,260 this fall!! I sent the money to Ester's pastor, Dr. Jonas Michael, and confirmed that all the money got to Ester and was used for tuition. Because of your support, Ester was able to stay in school for another semester. We've been messaging back and forth since the fall, and she wants you all to know, "All thanks to you and other people who have helped me to be at college. I really just don't know how to repay you back, but all I can say is thank you so much. May our God bless you."
(Ester's class rankings)Ester was ranked top in her program this February, with an average grade of 86%. She is working incredibly hard. Now, she needs to make another tuition payment by the month of April. We need to raise the remaining $895 in order for Ester to finish this year (school years in Tanzania go through the Summer in the U.S.) and get her degree. Any amount helps!
Organizer
Emma Fowkes
Organizer
Wilmette, IL