Who We Are
Girls First Initiative (GFI) is a locally-led, women-driven organization based in Tanzania. We are committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by investing in the education, health, and economic empowerment of adolescent girls and young women in underserved communities.
Founded by women who have experienced these same barriers, our team brings authentic insight, resilience, and a deep commitment to transforming futures.
Our Story
Bahati Mgogwe grew up witnessing the struggles of her mother, who worked tirelessly to raise her children, including twins born just a few years after Bahati herself. From an early age, she understood the weight of hardship and the power of resilience.
When her younger sister experienced early pregnancy right after completing secondary school, Bahati was struck by a harsh reality: countless girls in Tanzania were facing the same challenges—their dreams cut short by early pregnancy, limited access to education, and a lack of financial independence. She knew something had to change.
Graduating from Mwenge University in 2018 with a degree in Education, Bahati was determined to turn her experiences into action. She founded Msichana Kwanza, now known as Girls First Initiative (GFI), with a simple but powerful goal: to empower girls to take control of their lives through education, skills, and opportunity.
What started as a small website offering guidance on entrepreneurship and business skills quickly grew into a national movement. GFI now provides girls with:
- Entrepreneurship and financial literacy training
- Reproductive health education
- Scholarships and micro-loans to start small businesses
- Mentorship and professional development opportunities through programs like Girls Connect
Over four years, GFI has touched the lives of more than 12,000 girls directly across Tanzania, providing not just tools but hope—a chance to rewrite their stories. Each girl empowered is a ripple of change, influencing her family and community.
The Reality We’re Facing
- Only 3 in 100 girls from the poorest households complete secondary school in Tanzania. 1 in 3 girls is married before age 18.
Over 60% of girls in rural areas miss school during their periods due to a lack of menstrual hygiene products and safe toilets.
27% of adolescent girls aged 15–19 are already mothers or pregnant with their first child.
70% of young women lack access to formal employment or sustainable income.
Gender-based violence remains widespread and underreported—especially for girls who are economically dependent or isolated.
These numbers are not just statistics. Behind each one is a girl with dreams—a future teacher, nurse, entrepreneur, artist, or leader—who simply needs the right support at the right time to thrive.
Our Solution
We exist to break this cycle—not by offering short-term aid, but by building a sustainable model where communities themselves lead the transformation.
Through our Taa ya Maisha model, we:
- Educate and mentor girls
- Equip caregivers—especially women—with skills and financial tools
- Reinvest resources back into the next girl’s future through women-led cooperatives
This creates a ripple effect: empowered women support educated girls who grow into empowered women—changing not just their lives, but the lives of future generations.
Our Why In One Sentence
We exist because every girl deserves the chance to live a life of dignity, choice, and possibility, and we refuse to let poverty, gender inequality, or silence take that chance away.
Innovation and creativity
Partnership & Influencing
Inclusion and Teamwork
Key Achievements
- Scholarships & Mentorship: 50 girls have received full scholarships; over 200 girls have benefited from structured mentorship.
- Life Skills Training: 150+ girls trained in communication, leadership, and decision-making.
- Msichana Kwanza Digital Hub: Launched in 2021, the platform has supported 1,500+ girls with job readiness, learning resources, and peer support.
- Economic Empowerment: 300+ women completed vocational and financial training, leading to 120+ microenterprises.
- Menstrual Health & Dignity: Distributed over 100,000 sanitary pads and 250 offline period tracking tools; built 2 school toilets in rural areas.
The Deeper Problem
Most programs focus on either girls or women—but rarely both. Yet we know from experience that girls succeed when their families and caregivers are also empowered. When a mother earns an income, a daughter stays in school. When a grandmother understands reproductive health, a girl is protected. When a father participates in gender-equality dialogues, violence decreases.
That’s why Girls First Initiative takes a holistic, intergenerational approach—because real change happens when we shift the systems around girls, not just their circumstances.
Why You Should
Partner With Us
- Grassroots-Led: We are locally rooted, girl-led, and trusted by the community, ensuring authentic and deep-reaching impact.
- Innovative & Sustainable: Our Taa ya Maisha model reinvests in girls’ education through women-led cooperatives, creating lasting impact.
- Holistic Approach: We integrate education, health, and livelihood support to empower the whole girl.
- Proven Track Record: Hundreds of girls and women have benefited from our interventions and support systems.
- Ready to Scale: With the right partners, we are ready to expand our model across Tanzania and East Africa.
