Girls Education Collaborative

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Girls Education Collaborative

GEC partners with local change-makers to bring social change through the power of girls education. Learn more: www.GEC.ngo

GEC is supporting the Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa to build and grow an exceptional school for girls in Mara Region, Tanzania.

09/04/2026

With Gratitude: Farewell to Ryan Knowles

Today, we celebrate Ryan Knowles, who has served GEC as Board Treasurer for many years, bringing his experience and thoughtful stewardship to GEC’s financial work throughout the organization’s growth.

Ryan was on the Board when the Alliance Funder Alliance (AFA) was launched, supporting GEC as it deepened its partnerships with locally led organizations in Tanzania. His experience working with nonprofits in financial roles brought valuable perspective to GEC’s financial stewardship and helped strengthen the organization as it grew.

Ryan’s commitment to GEC reflects his deep belief in the transformative power of girls’ education. When Kitenga Girls Secondary School opened in 2017, Ryan and his family shared a message of encouragement that beautifully captured his belief in what is possible for girls: “We are so proud of you! You can do anything you dream of.” Today, the girls of KGSS continue to dream boldly and pursue those dreams.

Thank you, Ryan, for your years of dedicated service, thoughtful financial stewardship, and steadfast belief in GEC and the girls of Kitenga.

Asante Sana!

09/02/2026

With Gratitude: Farewell to Bob Berger

Today, we celebrate Bob Berger, who was there when GEC was first formed and went on to serve on the Board for more than 14 years, including five years as Board Chair. His leadership helped shape GEC during its foundational years and played an important role in turning an early vision into a lasting partnership in Tanzania.

Bob played an instrumental role in helping turn GEC’s vision into reality. When he first visited Kitenga in 2013, there was no school, only a dream of what could be. Bob was part of the team that helped select the site for the Alice Kryzan Memorial Library, which became the first building constructed on the site and remains a cherished space for students today.

Over the years, Bob continued to support GEC’s vision as it grew, returning to Kitenga many times, including in 2024 for graduation and the dedication of the Gathering Place. The foundation Bob helped build has created opportunities for generations of girls in Tanzania to access a safe and quality education.

Thank you, Bob, for 14 years of thoughtful leadership, steadfast commitment, and belief in what was possible.

Asante Sana!

08/26/2026

With Gratitude: Farewell to Dr. Christine Brown

As we welcome new board members this year, our hearts are also full as we bid farewell to three remarkable members of our board. Each has given GEC years of wisdom, heart, and dedication, and we are taking time to celebrate their legacy this week.

Starting with Dr. Christine Brown, who served as GEC Board Secretary for a decade. Over the years, Christine has contributed to GEC in countless ways, from working alongside the Sisters at Kitenga to championing fundraising in the U.S. and helping build the partnership with Mainsprings. Her many visits to Kitenga reflect a deep commitment to the students and partners we work alongside, and to the relationships at the heart of GEC’s work.

Thank you, Christine, for a decade of unwavering dedication.

Asante Sana!

08/12/2026

Wishing the Young Girls at KGSS a Wonderful International Youth Day!

08/10/2026

Term 2 is in full swing! 💙

There’s something special about seeing students return to campus with renewed energy and excitement for the year ahead.

For KGSS Form 4 students, this is their final term of lower secondary school, a season filled with anticipation as they prepare for their exams and look forward to what comes next.

You might expect to see just nerves. Instead, we see smiles, laughter, and quiet confidence. They know how hard they’ve worked, and they know what they’re capable of!

That’s one of the greatest gifts of education: it doesn’t just change what girls know, it changes how they see themselves 💙

06/16/2026

GEC's founder Anne Wadsworth received Bowdoin College 's 2026 Common Good Award, recognizing a lifetime of work advancing the common good.

In her acceptance remarks, Anne reminded us that this recognition is not about one person. It belongs to the community that has helped shape Girls Education Collaborative over the past 15 years: our supporters, board members, volunteers, donors, partners, and especially the Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa, whose leadership and vision continue to inspire us every day.

Most importantly, Anne dedicated this moment to the girls who remain at the heart of our work. "The girls who are denied the educations they seek. The girls who are sold into marriage. The girls who want to show the world there's nothing a girl can't do."

This award shines a light on the belief that meaningful change happens when a small group of people come together.

Congratulations, Anne. We are deeply grateful for your leadership, and for everyone who has been part of this journey.

05/29/2026

It’s almost lunchtime in Kitenga 🍅🥑🥕🥬🫑

If you were there right now, you’d probably find girls gathered outside the dining hall, sitting under the shade of a tree, having a laugh together, and patiently (or impatiently!) waiting for lunch.

The school leadership heard from parents that this is one of the things their girls were most excited to come back to after break: fresh fruits and vegetables every single day.

Earlier that morning, fruits and vegetables harvested from the Garden for the Future, the school’s permaculture farm, would have been brought directly to the kitchen to be prepared for lunch.

This was intentional. From the beginning, the farm was never designed only as an agriculture project. It was designed as part of the educational ecosystem itself: improving nutrition, strengthening food security, creating practical learning opportunities, and helping build a school environment where girls are healthier, more focused, and better able to thrive.

Educating the whole girl means recognizing that learning doesn’t happen in isolation, and that wellbeing, practical life skills, and a supportive environment are all part of helping girls succeed inside and outside the classroom.

05/27/2026

We’re proud to share that Anne Robinson Wadsworth, founder and former Executive Director of Girls Education Collaborative, will receive the 2026 Common Good Award from Bowdoin College this Saturday on May 30.

It is hard to capture everything Anne has championed, nurtured, and helped make possible over the years. But what stays with us most are moments like this one.

This video was taken in the very early days of the Kitenga Girls Secondary School, before the school had officially opened, and even before electricity had been installed on campus! After years of hard work alongside the Sisters to get the school operational, this was the first time we met the girls who would become the heart of the school. It was an incredibly emotional moment. We joined them after dark in the dormitory and sang “If You’re Happy and You Know It” together.

We’re so happy to see Anne receiving this recognition, and for those who have witnessed her commitment over the years, we know just how deeply deserved it is.

05/13/2026

Last week in Buffalo NY, we gathered to celebrate and thank two extraordinary longtime supporters of Girls Education Collaborative: Bob Berger and Christine Brown.

Bob has been part of GEC since the very beginning, and both he and Christine have given so much time, care, and leadership to the GEC community and Tanzanian partners over the years.

As a small token of gratitude, we gifted them each a handmade wall hanging with an African Violet. We also thanked them their instrumental support in helping build two spaces that continue to shape daily life at Kitenga Girls Secondary School: the school garden and the Alice Kryzan Memorial Library.

Their impact will continue to grow through every girl who learns in those spaces.

Asante Sana, Bob and Christine.

04/30/2026

With great excitement, we welcome three new members to GEC's Board of Directors: Aderonke "Ronke" Adebajo, Andrea Griffa Harden and Zachary McGee.

Together they bring deep expertise in finance, talent strategy, organizational leadership, and community-rooted stewardship that will help strengthen GEC as we continue investing in girls’ education through locally led partnerships.

We are honored to welcome them and excited for what we will build together.

Address

657 Persons Street
East Aurora, NY
14052

Telephone

+17167109105

Website

http://www.gec.ngo/

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