A Determined Young Woman

Zawadi Mwema, a Form 3 student at Oldeani Secondary School (OSS), has overcome countless obstacles to be where she is today. Like many other young girls living in the developing world, she grew up in a system that always seemed to be working against her.

Zawadi is from Benduka Village where it took her nearly 2 hours to walk to Oldeani Secondary School each day. Determined to continue her education, Zawadi found accommodation in the Oldeani community where she could work in exchange for housing closer to campus. At just 17 years old, Zawadi had to care for herself.

Zawadi's symptoms began around the time that we were conducting our annual health checks for every student enrolled in our partner schools. These thorough assessments include a vision test, height, weight and temperature measurements, and screenings for any medical conditions. The health checks provide an opportunity to evaluate each student's well-being and identify any medical needs that would create a barrier to academic success.

On the day of Zawadi’s health check, our Clinical Officer, Africanus John, immediately knew something was wrong. He arranged for Zawadi to have her thyroid further examined at our local partner hospital, FAME Medical. Zawadi was diagnosed with a thyroid goiter that required surgery. After covering the costs of her surgery and treatment, our Health Team continues to provide Zawadi with the follow-up care and support she needs.

We want to ensure every student can succeed at their studies and have an equal chance at a bright future. Zawadi is just one of the over 1,000 students who benefited from our annual school health checks this year. With everything students in our area have to overcome to receive an education, TCF has made access to free, quality and compassionate medical care a priority.