In Tanzania, the participation of female students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines in Higher Education is low. According to UNESCO, women in Tanzania represent 40% of university enrollment, but only about 24% are enrolled in STEM. In Tanzania, students are required to select a track to study in high school after Form 2. This track could be either Science, Arts, or Business. We want to inspire more students to pursue careers in the sciences. To achieve higher levels of girls’ participation in STEM subjects Nurturing Minds and SEGA host a STEM extracurricular program that will reinforce concepts learned in class, make STEM learning interactive and accessible, and emphasize the myriad possibilities of careers in STEM for women.

Watch our video about visiting the SEGA Girls' School! 

The STEM Adventures at SEGA Program will take place for the fourth year to give Form 1 students hands-on experience and cultural exchange opportunities through an immersive week-long program filled with captivating activities and experiments on relevant topics to encourage and motivate the students to pursue a bright future in STEM!

Modeled after our English Fluency Program, our STEM Adventures at SEGA Program will include student and volunteer-led activities to engage in science practices in the lab and in the field. We will explore, explain, and evaluate the environment through the lens of a chemist, biologist, physicist, and environmentalist. Students will be participating in week-long activities learning relevant science topics. The program will kick off with a field trip and then culminate with an end-of-week Science Share!

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 volunteer 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 offer double and triple rooms at the SEGA Visitor House. Rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Priority will be given to couples, families, and friends who are traveling together. Please note that if you select SINGLE or DOUBLE accommodation as a preference this will not apply to the SEGA Visitor House only to the hotels in Dar es Salaam. It will only apply to the Mediterraneo Hotel and Hotel Slipway in Dar es Salaam.  

Guests must provide their own travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation. We recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover emergency medical expenses and unexpected trip cancellations. Nurturing Minds is not a licensed insurance agency or advisor. We strongly recommend that all travelers get Cancel For Any Reason Insurance (CFAR) which will cover reasons that may be associated with COVID-19.   

We recommend that all travelers visit Yonder Travel Insurance for help choosing a personal health and travel insurance plan. They partner with great, recognizable partners, and for every plan purchased they provide a week of meals to a refugee child in South East Asia through Venture a U.S. based 501(c)(3). Please obtain travel insurance at least 2 weeks before your trip. 

Please provide an email to us containing:  

1. Travel Insurance Provider 

2. Insurance Policy Number

3. 24-hour support line

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.

Multi-entry 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.

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. 

Typical Flight Paths:

If you are flying from Boston, MA this will generate 3000 KG of carbon emissions. To offset these emissions you will purchase 3.4 tonnes of CO2.  To offset these emissions, visit https://www.carbontanzania.com/buy-carbon-offsets/ and purchase $51 of certified carbon offsets to balance your emissions. This is a tax-deductible purchase. 

If you are flying from Philadelphia, PA this will generate 3.5 Tonnes of CO2. To offset these emissions, visit https://www.carbontanzania.com/buy-carbon-offsets/ and purchase $52.50 of certified carbon offsets to balance your emissions. This is a tax-deductible purchase. 

If you are flying from New York City, NY this will generate 3.5 Tonnes of CO2. To offset these emissions, visit https://www.carbontanzania.com/buy-carbon-offsets/ and purchase $52.50 of certified carbon offsets to balance your emissions. This is a tax-deductible purchase. 

If you are flying from the DMV Area (IAD/BWI/DCA) this will generate 7.5 Tonnes of CO2. To offset these emissions, visit https://www.carbontanzania.com/buy-carbon-offsets/ and purchase $112.50 of certified carbon offsets to balance your emissions. This is a tax-deductible purchase. 

If you have a different flight path, email myranda@nurturingmindsinafrica.org to find out how many carbon offsets you need to purchase. 

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

You can secure your spot in the 2025 English Fluency Program by paying your trip deposit. Please note our Trip Deposit, Cancellation, and Refund Policy. 

Trip Deposits: 

For group volunteer trips (18+ travelers), such as STEM Adventures at SEGA and the English Fluency Program, a $500 deposit is required at the time of booking, and the remaining balance must be paid 2 weeks before the SEGA departure date.

Cancellation and Refund Policy: 

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. 

Experience urban living at its most cosmopolitan at Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel, located at the heart of the city centre business district, just moments from sandy Indian Ocean beaches, a bustling fish market and eclectic crafts markets, boutiques and restaurants. A garden oasis of tranquillity and charm, our five-star Dar es Salaam hotel promises the warmest of welcomes, vibrant experiences and vivid memories of your stay.

Enjoy overnight accommodation, dinner, and breakfast! 

https://www.serenahotels.com/dar-es-salaam?srsltid=AfmBOorcpO1i4AxVn98cTnQwufgNYTT7EcsX_IA39JYxDKuCDK_Xuq_R

Depart Serena Hotel for a 90-minute train ride through Tanzania to reach Morogoro. Where you will be warmly welcomed to the SEGA Visitor House where you will be treated to a welcome song, campus tour, and meet and greet with SEGA students! 

You will also have dedicated time for group planning sessions with fellow STEM Volunteers.

Enjoy 8-night accommodations, breakfast, lunch, and dinner! 

The day begins with breakfast, followed by an overview of the volunteer program, including expectations, goals, objectives, and teaching assignments within groups. Afterward, there will be a run-through of Day 1 activities to ensure smooth program execution. A tea break with Form 1 students provides an opportunity for informal engagement before transitioning into individual group preparation time. Lunch will be followed by a casual meet-and-greet activity with SEGA students, where volunteers can invite them to the evening movie night while participating in soccer, board games, or a fun science activity. The afternoon includes protected time for rest or group planning before dinner. The day concludes with a special movie night featuring The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind on Netflix, accompanied by popcorn.

The day begins with breakfast before departing SEGA for a home and community visit with a current SEGA student, including light snacks. The group will then enjoy a buffet lunch at Oasis Hotel, followed by an exploration of the food and fabric markets in Morogoro. In the afternoon, there will be a visit to the MK Program before transitioning into protected time for rest or group planning. The day concludes with dinner.

Today is the day! The STEM Adventures at SEGA Program begins with morning assembly, and student and teacher introductions in the Big Banda. Today will consist of meet & greet time with Form 1 students, getting to know each other, and introductory STEM lessons! We will also welcome local women scientists for motivational speeches!

Enjoy overnight accommodations, lunch, and dinner at the SEGA Visitor House. 

The day begins with breakfast before gathering at the front of the school to depart SEGA and travel to SUA. Upon arrival, the group will embark on a guided tour covering key topics related to the university. Lunch will take place at SUA before returning to SEGA Girls’ School or alternatively at the SEGA Visitor House. The afternoon includes protected time for rest or group planning, followed by a debrief and preparation for Day 3. The day concludes with dinner alongside Madam Elly.

You will be teaching in the morning and leading up to right after lunch.

Enjoy overnight accommodations, lunch, and dinner at the SEGA Visitor House. 

You will be teaching in the morning and leading up to right after lunch.

Enjoy overnight accommodations and lunch at the SEGA Visitor House. 

Today the students come together to present and share their favorite topics from throughout the week! There will also be a local scientist guest speaker and a volunteer farewell celebration! 

After tea, we will depart for Mikumi National Park. Mikumi National Park is Tanzania’s fourth-biggest national park. Situated between the Uluguru Mountains and the Lumango Mountains, Mikumis Park Center has a wide assortment of natural life that can be simply spotted and is very much suitable for viewing in a game drive.

You will enjoy overnight accommodations and Dinner at Foxes Safari Camps, Vuma Hills Tents.

Enjoy breakfast, dinner, and overnight accommodations at SEGA Visitor House. 

Day 2 at Mikumi National Park! Enjoy a morning of game drives, followed by lunch. Then depart Mikumi to return to Morogoro Town to catch the 90-minute train ride back to Dar es Salaam and overnight stay and dinner at Hotel Slipway. 

https://www.hotelslipway.com/

You will be transported from Hotel Slipway to Julius Nyerere International Airport for your departure flights! 

You are welcome again!