Education Matters is proud to announce that TWEENS has been awarded a Julia Taft Refugee Fund grant by the U.S. Embassy Harare and @state.PRM. The project titled “TWEENS Empowering Through Education-For Refugee Youth by Refugee Youth” has been approved for USD $25,000 funding. This one year capacity building grant that began in August of 2024 will go towards infrastructure expansion, facility improvement to add an outdoor teaching gazebo for an additional classroom, and operation of the TWEENS center and especially the A level program.
Together We Can Educationally Empower Non-privileged Students (TWEENS) is an organization founded and run by refugees for refugees that targets youth in Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge, Zimbabwe. Education Matters’ supports TWEENS, as part of our drive to support talent to meet opportunity. TWEENS is a refugee led peer tutoring youth center dedicated to empowering refugee youth through education and mentorship in the camp. TWEENS was launched during the COVID lockdowns of 2020-21 as a peer tutoring program by refugee Advanced Level students attending Education Matters’ USAP Community School as their service learning and Capstone projects. Close to 5 years later, TWEENS is a vibrant center for after school programmes, education outreach, a girls’ book club, homework assistance, service learning, and the 2023 new addition, an A level programme.
Education Matters will continue to assist the Head Teacher and TWEENS coordinator with finance administration, capacity building as well as fundraising and grant writing during and post this grant. The Julia Taft grant is a gamechanger for TWEENS, as it will provide the capacity for TWEENS to provide refugee students with the opportunity to continue their education, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for university admission and future employment. We are grateful to the U.S. Embassy for their belief in the potential of TWEENS and their generous support.
Congratulations to TWEENS !
#TaftFund
Congratulations! I am so pleased to learn about this grant, knowing how transformative the TWEENS program is for everyone who is involved. Special recognition to the staff annd volunteers, including Olive Iragena, who has continued to support TWEENS while studying at Wilmington College In Ohio.