Our team
Kellen Msseemmaa • Founder
I was born and raised in Uganda, the first born of six children. My mother got pregnant while in secondary school and because of that she could not go on with her education and that meant the end of her dreams. While growing up my mother reminded me everyday of taking education seriously as it is the only way I could live my dream life. Read more...
Emanuel Chikoti • Director
I am a firm believer that youth is the foundation of any community -- especially in a region like East Africa where half of the population is under the age of 18 years old.
It might sound ironic for a man to be part of an “ empowered girls” organization but being raised in a family of 8 women including my mom has shaped my behaviour and attitude towards girls and women. My background is in accounting and administration and I have worked for more than 8 year in NGO spheres with programmes involving girls and boys empowerment.
Now working directly with girls and boys gives me even a larger platform to channel my inspiration and knowledge to my fellows towards the betterment of tomorrow since we young people are the faces of our past, our present and our future. My role is to create and maintain structures that empower our Empowered Girls team as we guide and inspire tomorrow’s leaders. No segment in the society can match the power, idealism, enthusiasm and courage of the young people towards the development of the society.
Aron William • Communications
As an educator, I have a great ambition to work with youth. My life experiences make me want to teach, inspire, and guide them to grow in a way they can face all their challenges, win them, and eventually to form a very good and beautiful community. I studied high school in Arusha at a school where there was an Empowered Girls program, joined military training in 2016, and finished by degree in education in 2019 from Kampala International University.
Lightness Makuza • Mentor
I am a Tanzanian and the second-born of four children raised in a family with love as the pillar of our home. I am a graduate from Mzumbe University with a Bachelor Degree of Human Resource Management.
I am an empowered woman who was once an Empowered Girl. The journey through Empowered Girls left me confident, resilient and I can say successful and because of that, as a way of giving back to my community, I want to help Empowered Girls members and other youth to walk the same path and live their dreams.
I have a dream of one day becoming a great leader in my country who will bring positive change. I have a vision of a world where everyone has a growth mindset and lives a better life.
I am excited to be part of this wonderful Empowered Girls mentoring team because I know what it means to be an empowered girl and the benefit it comes with.
Daniel Kimenega • Mentor
I am a mentor for Empowered Girls. I hold a bachelor's degree of education in psychology from the University of Dodoma.
Being part of teaching, guiding and counseling girls in my country is something I desire and enjoy to do. Within girls lay rising giants. This the center of my being and so it's not only about inspiring, motivating and excitement but also the reason for being.
When girls succeed in their lives as per potential given by God, the society grows in good moral conduct to the economy of the families, society, nations and the world at large.
Transferring knowledge and sharing of experience with young girls and boys are the seeds I am planting on the good ground to reap the achievements of seeing a world where the young generation, present and in future, are reaching their visions by realizing, maximizing and releasing their potential.
All of this is to see the Earth be a better place to live for every human being, especially young girls who have so many obstacles in their paths.
Linda Emanuel • Mentor
I am a program mentor for Empowered Girls. I got my bachelor degree of education in art at Mwenge Catholic University.
Aside from being a program mentor in Empowered Girls, I am an Empowered Girls alumna who is very familiar with the environment and the challenges that rural school girls pass through. My desire is to be an answer to questions that many young girls have in their mind and from the environment around them especially the culture and traditions that are marginalizing their dreams.
As a student ,my desire was to get someone to guide me and also to help me with some questions that were killing my dignity. The vision and values inside me was full of impossibilities, negativities, harmful beliefs as well as a world of silenced women. Thereafter I met Empowered Girls with tools of self awareness, self confidence, self assertiveness and the power of believing that I can do great things. I came to realise the clear picture of who I was born to be.
The picture I have toward girls is to transfer the eyes (knowledge,skills and experiences) for them to see clearly who they are supposed to be and not what people (culture and tradition systems) say they are supposed to be since we were created in the beauty and wonder of God in order to be problem solvers for the world.
Jadilina Michael • Mentor
I am a mentor for Empowered Girls. I hold a bachelors in business management, and I am a beautiful woman with dreams to archive
As an Empowered Girls alumna, being part of the club since Form One has helped me in nurturing my dreams, where I am today because of the encouragement and inspiration from our previous mentors.
Growing up in a community where most girls are not motivated to study hard and reach their dreams, so many end up getting pregnant and dropping out of school and some get married at an early age hence their families end up not getting proper care.
Giving back to the community by being part of the organisation as a mentor will help me motivate girls to work hard towards their dreams for the betterment of their future selves, families and communities.
I am so happy to have the chance to change the lives of youth, particularly girls, who are likely to be marginalised to know their value and believe in themselves. Nothing can change or take that from them.