Across Africa, momentum is growing to expand STEAM education, particularly for girls who remain underrepresented in these fields. In Tanzania, women make up only about 38.5% of higher-education enrollment, and UNESCO data shows that in many African countries fewer than one in three STEM graduates are women. Although detailed national data is limited, the gender gap in STEM participation is clear, making SEGA’s STEAM initiative especially important.

To help close this gap, Nurturing Minds and SEGA are investing in interactive, engaging STEAM programs that show girls what is possible. A team of volunteers leads a 6-day STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) Camp in partnership with SEGA’s STEM Department, offering hands-on learning rooted in sustainability and real-world problem solving.

Students investigate climate-related challenges on campus, develop creative solutions, and bring their ideas to life through 3D models. The week culminates with students presenting their proposals, building confidence, leadership skills, and a deeper commitment to climate resilience and sustainable agriculture at SEGA and beyond.

Watch our video about visiting the SEGA Girls' School! 

SEGA Girls’ School is a private secondary girls’ boarding school serving over 275 girls each year from Form I-Form IV. Students are selected from 25 different communities across the country and the majority are provided with full scholarships to attend. SEGA follows the Tanzanian national curriculum and is ranked in the top 7% of schools in the country. Over time, SEGA’s goal is to improve education standards in Tanzania by becoming a model center for excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership development. In addition to its academic program, the school provides practical, relevant skills through hands-on activities.

Experience the SEGA Girls’ School firsthand, by staying on campus in the SEGA Visitor House.

Nestled near the base of the beautiful Uluguru Mountains, the School is located 7 miles north of Morogoro, which is located approximately 5 hours west of Dar es Salaam by car. Experience the school in person and relax in our comfortable visitor house while enjoying delicious dishes from your private cook and experiencing the vitality of our vibrant school and nearby cultural exchange activities. 

Your stay at the SEGA Visitor House contributes to improving the financial sustainability of the SEGA Girls' School.

We only offer double or triple room accommodations at the SEGA Visitor House. If you are traveling with a friend or family member please let us know so that we can organize the rooms accordingly. Single accommodation bookings only apply to arrangements made at hotels in Dar es Salaam.

As part of our commitment to carbon reduction, we have designed a plan to offset carbon emissions that cannot be minimized. In pursuit of this goal, Nurturing Minds has formed a partnership with Carbon Tanzania, a renowned organization specializing in carbon offsetting and climate change solutions in Tanzania. One of the areas we will begin by focusing on is offsetting the carbon emissions generated by international flights to visit the SEGA Girls’ School. 

We request that all SEGA visitors join us in our efforts to make visits to the SEGA Girls’ School environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly. You can contribute to our sustainability goals by purchasing carbon credits through Carbon Tanzania. Attached here, you will find detailed instructions and explanations to guide you through purchasing carbon offsets for your international flight to Dar es Salaam. 

**Just 1 tonne of CO2 equals 2,500 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle! **

Beginning October 1, 2026, all foreign visitors entering Mainland Tanzania by air, land, or sea must have inbound travel insurance issued by Tanzania’s National Insurance Corporation (NIC). The policy costs $44 USD per person and provides coverage for up to 92 days. Travelers should purchase the insurance online before arrival through the official NIC Inbound Travel Insurance Application and have proof of coverage available when entering Tanzania. In addition, we recommend purchasing travel insurance through Yonder Travel, which works with major insurance providers. We recommend adding Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and Medical Evacuation coverage. For help with quotes or questions, contact Yonder representative Meagan Palmer at meagan@insureyonder.com or 855-358-6433. Although travel insurance can generally be purchased up to 24 hours before departure, certain benefits, including CFAR and pre-existing condition waivers, must be purchased within a limited window—typically 1–21 days after the initial deposit.

In order to enter Tanzania, you will need a valid passport with at least two blank pages and six months' validity remaining. The passport and any other required travel documents are to be presented along with the appropriate visa to the Immigration Control Officer at any entry point, such as a border station, airport, or harbor. 

You can obtain a visa for Tanzania online (e-visa Tanzania). Visas may also be obtained upon arrival.

Multientry visa cost is 100 USD. 

We highly encourage U.S. travelers to register with the U.S. Government Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and to review the pages for the U.S. Embassy Tanzania and U.S. Department of State Tanzania.

We do not send tax receipts for trip expenses because Nurturing Minds does not consider these payments to be donations since visitors receive a benefit (all of the land activities). Additionally, the payments do not flow through Nurturing Minds' books. Nurturing Minds is merely a pass-through organization for the funds to allow U.S. visitors to easily pay SEGA, since they do not have the ability to accept credit cards and checks.

The IRS may allow you to write off some volunteer trip expenses as long as the trip is only for volunteering purposes, however, we suggest speaking with your tax consultant for guidance and recommendations. 

Please contact us at info@nurturingmindsinafrica.org if you require a tax receipt after further research and discussions with your tax consultant.

In the event of a cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances, refunds will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Nurturing Minds strives to protect staff time taken to organize trip logistics, while simultaneously maintaining positive relationships with SEGA supporters. 

Activities and accommodations in the trip itinerary may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of Nurturing Minds or its partners. While every effort will be made to ensure that the trips operate as planned, in the event of substituted, not utilized, or canceled activities or accommodations, no refunds or reimbursements will be issued by Nurturing Minds or its partners.

If cancellation is requested, the visitor/volunteer's initial deposit and/or full trip cost may be converted into a charitable donation to Nurturing Minds, allowing the visitor/volunteer to receive a tax benefit for their contribution if it is not covered by travel insurance. It is the responsibility of the traveler to first check with their travel insurance to see what is covered due to cancellation and then communicate with Nurturing Minds if the trip payment is requested to be classified as a charitable donation, allowing the traveler to receive the associated tax benefit. Nurturing Minds will issue a letter to visitors/volunteers acknowledging the receipt of the donation. 

If the cancellation is within a 30-day notice of departure refunds in regards to accommodation, meals, sightseeing tours, transportation, or any other services included in the trip itinerary and trip cost may not be able to be refunded due to Nurturing Minds/SEGA partners cancellation and refund policies. 

In some cases, Nurturing Minds may be able to issue full or partial refunds if cancellation takes place more than 30 days before departure. 

We will arrange for your airport transfer and overnight accommodations at a hotel in Dar es Salaam that will include dinner and breakfast the following morning.

Enjoy overnight accommodation, dinner, and breakfast! 

You’ll be picked up your hotel by a trusted driver and taken to the Dar es Salaam SGR Station for a comfortable 90-minute high-speed train ride to Morogoro. Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly welcomed at the Morogoro Station and transferred to the SEGA Visitor House, where a welcome song, campus tour, and meet-and-greet with SEGA students await!

Enjoy 6-night accommodation at the SEGA Visitor House!

Prepare for the week with training on teaching techniques, classroom expectations, and lesson planning. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to meet Form 1 students through a welcome song and interactive scavenger hunt, followed by a movie night together.

Begin the STEAM teaching program with morning and afternoon classroom sessions. Later, visit local SEGA families in Mkundi for a home visit and lunch, followed by time to explore Morogoro town, including its markets and local shops.

Continue classroom sessions and collaborate with SEGA students on STEAM activities. In the afternoon, a local tailor will visit SEGA to create a custom outfit using the kitenge fabric you selected the day before. You will also join SEGA students for a traditional Ngoma drumming and dancing lesson! The day concludes with dinner with SEGA’s Headmistress.

Spend the day at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), exploring hands-on learning experiences connected to food science, agriculture, and sustainability. This visit offers a chance to see how classroom concepts connect to real-world science and local innovation.

Return to the classroom for another full day of STEAM sessions. Volunteers will continue working with students, building on earlier lessons and helping them develop their ideas and projects.

Continue STEAM sessions and support students as they develop their projects. In the afternoon, enjoy time playing sports with students before coming together to reflect on the week and prepare for the final presentations.

Celebrate the students’ work as groups present their projects and reveal their community installation. The morning includes guest speakers, certificates, group photos, and a farewell celebration. In the afternoon, volunteers can join an optional hike to Choma Waterfall with SEGA graduates, or help organize program materials and complete end-of-program reflections.

Depart early for Mikumi National Park for a safari experience with professional guides. Enjoy wildlife viewing and game drives before spending the night at Foxes Stanley Kopje Tented Camps.

Start the day with an early morning game drive before returning toward Morogoro. Travel by train back to Dar es Salaam and check into Hotel Slipway for a group dinner and a final evening together.

Enjoy breakfast at Hotel Slipway before transferring to Julius Nyerere International Airport for your departure flight home.