Breaking barriers: Shubi’s mission to keep Tanzanian girls in school

This initiative aims to help girls in Northwest Tanzania access feminine hygiene products and education, enabling them to stay in school. The initiative was inspired by a survey that revealed girls miss 5-7 days of school each month due to a lack of feminine hygiene products, putting them at a disadvantage the survey revealed which disadvantages

Ms Shubi has spent most of her life in the Tanzanian community in Chicago, growing from a child to a vital member of the Bongo community. Our interview with her had to be delayed for a few weeks due to a period of bereavement within the community, during which she joined hands with other Tanzanians to navigate the sorrow.

A native of Bukoba in the Kagera region, Shubi spent only nine years there before moving to Chicago with her mother and siblings to join her father, who had moved there years earlier.

They reconnected with him in the late 90s. Family reunification in Chicago was smooth, thanks to the well-established Tanzanian community, which grew even larger in the 1990s, although some community members had started arriving in the 1970s. 

“Coming to the US knowing there is a huge Tanzanian community was very comforting,” she said. Once settled in Chicago, other Tanzanians helped them navigate the new country, from where to buy African food to how to dress for the brutal Chicago winters. Her father and other Tanzanian leaders came together and created the Tumaini Swahili Chapel, where services were led in Kiswahili, and they would gather once a month.

As a child, Shubi always looked forward to meeting other Tanzanian kids to play. It was essential for her to stay connected to her culture. Although she didn’t fully understand the importance of those community gatherings at the time, looking back, she now appreciates how they helped keep her grounded.

Growing up in an immigrant family, Shubi was able to integrate into American culture and maintain her heritage. Her African name often led to questions about her origins, especially in the early 2000s when negative assumptions about Africa were rampant. Many people thought Africa was one big poor country.

“They asked me if we had wild animals running in the streets or if everyone lived in huts,” she reflected.

This ignorance stemmed from how Africa was portrayed in mainstream media. Shubi used these opportunities to educate others about Tanzania and Africa, turning uncomfortable encounters into moments of pride in her Kihaya name and Tanzanian culture. People often appreciated her responses and were thankful for the new information.

Nowadays, being African is seen as cool in the US, and the willingness of Africans to share the truth about Africa through social media has played a significant role in this shift. The city of Chicago has long embraced African culture through African festivals dating back to the 1990s and Kwanzaa celebrations, where Kiswahili is embedded in the celebration.

It is uplifting to see the city uphold and celebrate African culture and heritage.

Right after college in 2012, Shubi had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant in a high-need school in the Greater Chicago area. Her connection with the students was strengthened because she had also attended public schools, allowing her to understand and relate to some of the challenges they faced. Her Tanzanian name sparked curiosity among her students, and she proudly shared stories about Africa and her heritage.

This connection was particularly meaningful for the black students, as she used the opportunity to foster a sense of Black pride and unity.

After serving in the Chicago community for many years, Shubi strongly desired to return to Tanzania and find a way to serve there as well. When an opportunity arose through the Peace Corps, a US government volunteer programme, she jumped at it. The Peace Corps sends Americans to over 60 countries to work on community development projects, promoting peaceful friendship and supporting communities.

The Kondoa experience

From 2014 to 2016, Shubi served in the Peace Corps in Tanzania as a public health professional stationed in Kondoa, Dodoma. She partnered with nurses, doctors, and other health providers to educate communities in the villages about malaria and HIV prevention.

They also established prenatal classes for expecting families, which helped reduce maternal fatalities in the community by providing classes to 300 couples over two years. In a community where some women delivered their babies at home and faced numerous complications, they helped women prepare for the arrival of their newborns in safe and credible hospitals where they could receive the necessary support. 

“My time in Kondoa was incredible. It was a pivotal time in my life, and I am forever grateful for the lessons I learnt and the friendships I made,” she said.  The new friends she made in Kondoa have now become extended family members, and they are still in touch even today. It was also a rare opportunity for her to connect with her family in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Kagera.

Living in her motherland, which she left as a child, was very important for Shubi. She travelled extensively throughout the country and was able to experience the rich and diverse culture that lives harmoniously.

Shubi is appreciative of her fellow Tanzanians for their love and kindness. As a Christian in a predominantly Muslim community in Kondoa, she was welcomed to all the Eid celebrations, and well wishes were sent to her on all Christian holidays, such as Easter and Christmas.

The love and respect in Tanzania warmed her heart. She is also grateful to all the Tanzanians she encountered for teaching her about the country and helping her sharpen her Kiswahili speaking skills. She appreciates the Tanzanians she met for teaching her about daily life in Tanzania and helping her enhance her Kiswahili skills. She even picked up some Kirangi, the language widely spoken in Kondoa.

Generations of Tanzanians in the US, whether they relocated as adults or children or were born there, have experienced America differently.

Tanzanians born in the US may have a different perspective on their heritage compared to their parents or those who moved as adults. Connecting people with shared experiences is crucial for navigating cultural identity and understanding needs, challenges, and aspirations. Equally important is creating spaces for intergenerational opportunities, which the Tanzanian community in Chicago has facilitated through events like Kiswahili and Uhuru Day celebrations. These events are the initial steps in bringing these groups together, emphasising that their differences are their strength.

Shubi is currently working with the Jewish United Fund, where she has been for 10 months now as a refugee service programme specialist. She continues to serve diverse communities, highlighting the importance of inclusivity as the community grows.

All in all, Shubi’s commitment to serving different communities was inspired by her parents, who actively supported community members both in the US and back home in Tanzania.

Their generosity and dedication encouraged her to follow in their footsteps. “No matter how small my contribution to society, it’s comforting to know that I play my part and try my best to make a difference,” she said.

 “I am very hopeful for Tanzania and its ability to grow and prosper. Africa has the youngest population, and the majority of Tanzanians are young, creative, and motivated. You can see their brightness and creativity on social media, and I am very excited for this new generation,” she added.