Our Why

Across Tanzania, We Are Dedicated to improve Girl’s Lives

Who We Are

Our Story

Her Journey to School is a registered non-governmental organization that seeks to socially and economically empower rural girls in ensuring they have access to quality secondary/high school education, career, and Sexual reproductive health and rights mentorship and training that positively impact their life outcomes.

We incubates, mentor, and invest in both in school and out of school teenage girls from rural communities and help them to be influential women in their communities and beyond. Together with its partners, we deliver prompt and effective responses to challenges that women and girls face and, wherever possible, ensure that they have access to other productive resources to improve their lives.

Meet Ellie

The Heart Behind Her Journey to School

I was born and raised by a single mother in Meru Highlands, Northern Tanzania. My childhood was defined by resilience, hardship, and the unbreakable spirit of women who refused to give up.

At 15, I survived sexual violence, an experience that stripped away my confidence and silenced my voice. Women and girls in my community are subjected to deep-rooted customs, norms and values that equally deny their rights. Traditions often dictated a girl’s destiny. My sisters were forced to marry at the age of 12 and my own brothers would say, “We cannot send a wife of another man to school”.

Despite these barriers, I fought to continue my education and became the first in my family to graduate from college. That journey gave me the courage to transform pain into purpose, to ensure no girl’s dreams would be dismissed the way mine once were.

That’s how Her Journey to School was born. My life experience inspired me to start this Organization to help girls in my community access education, good health and economic independence. What began as a mentorship circle of 30 girls has grown into a movement transforming the lives of hundreds of students and adolescent mothers across Tanzania.

In 2018, I was invited by Former First Lady Michelle Obama to help launch the Global Girls Opportunity Alliance, an initiative of the Obama Foundation.
I had the honor of sharing our story with global leaders in New York City and was later featured in Teen Vogue Magazine and on NBC’s The Today Show. On International Women’s Day, Mrs. Obama shared my journey with millions worldwide, a reminder that even the smallest voice can spark global change.

Since officially registering Her Journey to School in 2020, our reach has grown to more than 660+ girls and 170+ adolescent mothers. Every milestone reminds me why this mission matters, to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and build a Tanzania where girls are educated, Protected, respected, and heard.

My story is living proof that education can turn pain into power and that when one girl rises, entire generations rise with her.

Our Approach

When She Rises, Generations Thrive..

We believe true change happens when girls, families, and communities move forward together. Our approach combines direct support for girls with broader community transformation to break cycles of poverty, inequality, and gender based violence.

Mentorship & Education
We mentor girls to become confident, informed, and resilient leaders. Through health, leadership, and life-skills education, they gain the tools and courage to stay in school and shape their futures.

Access to Essentials
No girl should miss class because of a lack of basic needs. We provide menstrual products, school supplies, and essential support that help girls attend school with confidence and dignity.

Community Engagement
We partner with parents, fathers, teachers, and traditional leaders to challenge harmful norms and promote gender equality, creating communities that uplift, not limit, their daughters.

Skills for Adolescent Mothers.
Every young mother deserves a second chance. We provide vocational training, mentorship, and education pathways that help them rebuild their lives and reclaim their dreams.

Our Mission

Unlocking potentials of girls in Tanzania by ensuring her access to education, health, and opportunity so she can learn, lead, and thrive with dignity.

Our Vision

A Generation where every girl’s journey to school is safe, supported, and celebrated, where educated girls rise to their full potential and become the foundation of stronger, more equitable communities.

Our Values

Fairness & Justice – We stand for equality and dignity for every girl.

Integrity – We act with honesty, accountability, and transparency.

Learning & Innovation – We grow through knowledge, creativity, and reflection.

Boldness – We dare to lead change, even when it’s hard.

Partnership & Collaboration – We believe in collective power and shared purpose.

Respect – We honor every individual’s voice, culture, and experience.

Proactivity – We take initiative to solve problems before they

Our Impact

Girls Mentored

Districts Reached

Pads Distributed

Adolescent Mothers Skilled

Meet Our Team

**Eliakunda (Ellie) Kaaya**
**Founder & Executive Director, Her Journey to School**
**Founder, Swahili Creations Tanzania**

“I stand for every girl who was told she couldn’t, until she did.”

Eliakunda Kaaya most known as Ellie is a Tanzanian social entrepreneur, girls’ education advocate, a Rotarian and storyteller whose work stands at the intersection of education, gender equality, and social innovation.

Born in the Meru Highlands of Arusha, Ellie’s personal journey through hardship and determination shaped her belief that “when a girl rises, generations thrive.”

She founded Her Journey to School (HJTS) in 2020, a nonprofit that equips girls with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to stay in school and succeed. Under her leadership, HJTS has expanded from mentoring 30 girls to reaching over 600 girls and adolescent mothers across Tanzania through four flagship programs: Beyond the Pad Initiative, Ndoto ya Binti, The Future We Build, and Her Village Initiative.

Ellie is also the founder of Swahili Creations, a purpose-driven social enterprise where 50% of profits support girls’ education through Her Journey to School.

Her leadership and advocacy have earned her international recognition as a Mandela Washington Fellow (2024), She’s the First Girl-Centered Incubator Fellow, Clooney Foundation Waging Justice for Women Ambassador, and Room to Read’s “She Creates Change” voice artist, and Keynote Speaker in Global Stages.

From Rotary gatherings to global summits, Ellie carries the spirit of her community with grace and conviction reminding the world that empowering one girl creates ripples that change entire generations.

Melanin Magori is a dynamic management and finance analyst with a foundation in accountancy, taxation, entrepreneurship, and strategic operations. With over five years of leadership experience in global youth organizations such as AIESEC and KISA, and both national and international companies, including Lake Oil Group and AuditMax.

Throughout these experiences she has developed a passion for driving impact through financial insight and organisational excellence.
In her, echoes intentional leadership. Now, she is ready to serve and lead through her role of Executive Assistant Director at HER JOURNEY TO SCHOOL. this journey speaks truth , create a space to hear the unheard and be the voice of change and and she is ready to endure.

Mary Maika is a dynamic Project and Programs Manager with a foundation in Project Coordination, Youth Mentorship, and Nonprofit Operations. With over a decade of experience in federal program oversight, grants management, and organizational leadership in both national and international settings, including GLAMI and HopeCo.

Throughout these experiences, she has developed a profound passion for driving impact through inclusive practices, innovative solutions, and community transformation.

In her, echoes intentional leadership. Now, she is ready to serve and lead through her role of Director of Programs at HER JOURNEY TO SCHOOL. This journey speaks truth, creates a space to hear the unheard, and to be the voice of change, and she is ready to endure.

Mariam Tikoine is a passionate Communication and Multimedia Expert, social activist, and advocate for girls’ education and women’s rights. With a deep commitment to empowering women and promoting gender equality, Mariam has dedicated her career to using creative storytelling and media as powerful tools for social change. She is the founder of Oloip Lemaasinta, a vibrant Maasai art group that educates communities through performing arts and creative media. Under her leadership, the group has used theatre, film, and community engagement to raise awareness on critical social issues such as gender-based violence, early marriage, and the importance of education for girls.

In 2021, Mariam and her team produced a groundbreaking community play titled “TAPALA”, meaning “Stop Violence Against Women and Girls.” The play reached thousands of people through YouTube and live performances in eight secondary schools and eight villages, sparking dialogue and inspiring.

In 2025, Mariam joined the HJTS Organization as a Programs Manager, where she continues to drive impactful initiatives that support girls’ education, mentorship, and leadership development. Through her role, she envisions creating sustainable change that uplifts girls not only in the Maasai community but across Tanzania and beyond. Mariam’s work blends creativity, communication, and compassion, making her a powerful voice for equality and a catalyst for social transformation.