The girls are given both academic education and practical training in farming and growing crops to sell as a means to generate a sustainable income for their families. This enables families to invest in improved living conditions, including good sanitation, proper housing and sending all children to school. By effectively utilising already existing resources, the families lift themselves and their communities out of poverty.
The social entrepreneur, Mwalimu Mushehe, founded URDT in 1987. Since then, URDT has developed into an important function to drive positive change in the community. In addition to the school, URDT runs a university, a vocational training institute and a radio station.
URDT Girls’ School students achieve excellent academic results:
- 58% of the students who passed the secondary school exam in 2022 achieved top marks, compared to 36% nationally.
Nordic Capital has followed the progress of the families of 30 girls who started URDT in 2014 and after seven years:
- 18 families (60%) were living in proper houses made of bricks as opposed to 2014 when only 10% had proper houses.
- 90% have a daily income above USD 0.7, compared to only 20% when they joined.
Nordic Capital has also followed the progress of URDT Girls’ School alumni who graduated in 2021 or earlier (76 girls responded to the alumni survey):
- 100% went on to tertiary education, compared to the national average of 5%.
- 90% of those who have graduated from tertiary education are working and 3/4 of them earn more than USD 4.5 per day.