Welcome to Dira Girls Leadership!
Dira (the Swahili word for "compass") is an educational program
dedicated to empowering pre-teen girls in Africa to become leaders in
their community. We provide girls' education focusing on life skills,
safety, entrepreneurism and leadership development. Dira reaches
girls before age 12; before they make important decisions (such as
marriage, pregnancy and dropping out of school) that change the
course of their lives.
In just one year, Dira has been adopted at 6 primary schools in
Tanzania. We are currently serving almost 500 girls in the rural areas
at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Why girls leadership development?
Increasing evidence shows that educating and empowering girls results
in higher income potential for the girls, fewer and healthier babies, and
more money being reinvested into families. Girls have the potential to
break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. When these girls become
women who hold leadership positions, community health and
education improves.
Increasing evidence shows that educating and empowering girls results
in higher income potential for the girls, fewer and healthier babies, and
more money being reinvested into families. Girls have the potential to
break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. When these girls become
women who hold leadership positions, community health and
education improves.
Why empower girls now?
The global financial crisis has hit young women and girls the hardest.
Empowering girls is an investment, both socially and economically.
Please support a girl today!
The global financial crisis has hit young women and girls the hardest.
Empowering girls is an investment, both socially and economically.
Please support a girl today!
| Copyright 2010, Dira Girls' Leadership Program. All rights reserved. |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| News and Events: (updated 7/8/10) *Dira extends a warm thank you to the friends, family and community organizations who welcomed Dira Program Manager Charity Msuya on her recent trip to the U.S.! *Dira founder Patricia Enright recently received the Soroptimist International of Roxborough Ruby Award, in recognition of her work on behalf of women and girls. Congratulations to Edith Robert Hassan, the 2010 recipient of the Brenda Johnson Scholarship. She is doing very well in secondary school! Read more here. |
Why girls in Africa?
In many African countries, tradition and culture force girls into
subservient roles in the family and society. They are the first to be pulled
out of school when the family needs money. They are married young for
their dowry and they face significant risks to their health and safety.
However, these same girls are the key to the future of their communities
and countries.
In many African countries, tradition and culture force girls into
subservient roles in the family and society. They are the first to be pulled
out of school when the family needs money. They are married young for
their dowry and they face significant risks to their health and safety.
However, these same girls are the key to the future of their communities
and countries.
| Why not consider a donation in someone's name? Your gift can change a girl's life. |
| "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others." ~Cicero |
| Dira Co-founders Charity Msuya and Patricia Enright meet with President Bonita Snyder of Soroptimist International of Roxborough |
See videos from our
first graduation at
Malilo Primary on
first graduation at
Malilo Primary on
