Shamira Rajabu Said

In many parts of Tanzania, children are forced to grow up far too soon. The weight of poverty pushes them into adult responsibilities, working after school, sacrificing rest and study time all to survive and support their families.

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One of these children is Shamira Rajabu Said, a brave and hardworking girl currently in Form Five at Mpitimbi Secondary School in the Ruvuma region.

Shamira is the third-born in a humble family of Mr. and Mrs. Rajabu Said. Her father, a small-scale vendor, sells fish and cassava to make ends meet but the income is unpredictable and barely covers the basics. To help her family, Shamira spent many afternoons after school assisting in the business, often too tired to fully concentrate in class.

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Even under such pressure, Shamira never gave up. She completed her O-level education at Twiga Secondary School in Dar es Salaam and proudly graduated with Division II. Yet behind her success was a daily struggle late night, physical exhaustion, and the constant tug-of-war between schoolwork and survival. She knows she could have performed even better if life had given her a fair chance.

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After finishing O-level, things became even harder. Shamira took on a temporary job, working up to 16 hours a day for only 4,500 Tanzanian shillings a heartbreaking wage for such relentless labor. She was emotionally drained, physically worn, but still, she carried hope in her heart.

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Then came the turning point. Shamira was selected to join the Flaviana Matata Foundation Scholarship Programme a moment that changed her life. With the burden of school fees lifted, she could finally breathe, rest, and study like any student should. She now has the space to dream, to grow, and to focus on becoming who she’s meant to be.

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“The scholarship gave me more than just education it gave me freedom. It gave me hope. I believe in my future, and I will not stop fighting for it.”
Shamira Rajabu Said