(© Showa Women’s University SGSS project)
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Girls in Tanzania, despite facing challenging circumstances, strive to shape their futures through education and hold clear aspirations for their futures. Through our project's connection with Sakura Girls Secondary School, the Showa Women’s University members of the SGSS support project have been inspired by their determination. And we have built a relationship that goes beyond support — one of mutual learning.
One of our main activities is running a booth at the local Marche. By selling handicrafts and light snacks sourced directly from Tanzania, we raise funds to support our SGSS activities and initiatives.
The Marche is not only a way to raise donations through sales, but it's also an important opportunity for customers to learn about our project operations and Sakura Girls Secondary School. The funds are used to help support the educational expenses of local students in Tanzania. For example, they help pay for desks, chairs, stationery, and tuition.
To run our booth smoothly and to help visitors learn more about our activities and Sakura Girls Secondary School, we have made various improvements. Things we used to take for granted when we visited supermarkets and other stores became valuable learning experiences when we prepared to set up a stall and sell our products at a Marche ourselves.
Our most popular items include safari animal figurines and plates made from soapstone, a soft stone that is carefully hand-carved. Colorful accessories are also very popular among our customers. Since each item is handmade by local Tanzanians, the design is slightly different for each one! You'll find unique Tanzanian goods that are one of a kind!
Showing the Beauty of Tanzania
We redesigned our tabletop display to make it more attractive and engaging.
To help visitors quickly become aware of the SGSS project and understand who we are and what we do, we created banners, tablecloths, and even a four-panel comic introducing SGSS activities.
These improvement suggestions were provided by DAIHATSU TOKYO SALES CO LTD, our partner in the SGSS project, which kindly offered free guidance.
We received advice during workshops and actual Marche participation, and were able to make dramatic changes with each iteration.
DAIHATSU TOKYO SALES CO LTD also lends us their mobile sales vehicle, Nibako, when we participate in Daihatsu Marche. Its cute green appearance and practical, maneuverable design greatly support our Marche activities.
The tabletop incorporates elements inspired by Tanzania, such as the national flag, its national animal, the giraffe (the national animal), and cherry blossoms, which are also part of the school’s name, Sakura Girls Secondary School.
As a result, our booth became more vibrant and eye-catching, drawing greater interest from visitors.
For the Marche, we made banners, colorful Tanzania-themed table designs, and POP displays to introduce each product. And for customers, we made “Asante" thank-you cards.
What's New?
At the Showa Women's University autumn festival (Cosmos Festival), we invited visitors to write messages to the students in Tanzania.
We also organize workshops using fabrics sourced from Tanzania, allowing visitors to experience the culture hands-on.
Girls and Business
The SGSS project also provides an opportunity to learn about doing business. Our group identified several inefficiencies in product and financial management and implemented improvements:
- Price labeling for all items
We use name stickers from a 100-yen shop to label every product, making it easy for customers to see prices at a glance. - Introducing a sales management app
This makes it easier to track what items were sold and in what quantities. - Revising inventory management sheets
By including product images, purchase prices, and stock quantities, we improved overall inventory control.
It is a very worthwhile opportunity to support girls’ education in Tanzania, which also helps us improve our business management skills.
Come to the Marche!
Running a Marche is not always easy, but it has become a valuable opportunity for us to deepen our understanding of both the empowerment of girls in Tanzania through SGSS and how our activities can help them.
Above all, it is an unparalleled joy to see the funds we have raised through our own efforts making a real difference in the lives of the students. In fact, in 2025, we were able to raise a total of approximately ￥450,000 yen in donations. Since the annual tuition and dormitory fees for one student are approximately ￥160,000 yen in Japanese currency, this amount is enough to provide scholarships for two students.
Our activities go beyond simply raising funds for scholarships. We also provide support for students when they come to Japan from Tanzania every few years, conduct online Japanese language classes, and some project members even travel to Tanzania at their own expense. Most importantly, by continuing our activities, we can continue to spread awareness of the current situation in Tanzania and the existence of these students studying at SGSS to the world. We are doing everything we can now to ensure that this project, which began at Showa Women's University through various connections, continues even after we graduate.
Student Cafe On Campus
As an extra project, we wanted not only people outside the university but also students on campus to learn more about our activities, so we decided to collaborate with a café on campus!
We are planning to hold an SGSS project information session, a handmade workshop using Tanzanian fabrics, and sales of goods purchased directly from Tanzania. The café will also be decorated with Tanzanian fabric tablecloths and cushions, Tingatinga art, and photos of SGSS students, creating a space filled with Tanzania!
This project has taken about a year to make happen, and we are all very excited about it!
To create more opportunities for people to learn about the students we support in Tanzania, our project continues to explore a variety of approaches. As a university project, members graduate, and new students join every year, bringing constant change to the team. However, our desire to support the girls studying in Tanzania remains unchanged and continues to be at the heart of the project.
Although many of us will graduate in 2027, we are working hard to ensure that the SGSS project will continue long into the future through careful preparation and leadership transition. We hope you will continue to follow and support our activities.
Please come to the Marche and Cosmos Festival to learn more and help support them!
Asante sana! 🥰
Our Partnership
Our connection with Sakura began in 2022 as a Project-based Learning initiative led by Professor Akiko Imai’s seminar at the Showa Women's University.
Thank you to our partners, DAIHATSU TOKYO SALES CO, LTD, THE SEIBU SHINKIN BANK, Group Kilimanjaro Inc, and Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc, for their support and advice.
To learn more about the Japan Showa Women's University Sakura project or to help support it, please follow the project on Instagram, see the Sakura Vision website, and join Sakura Girl’s Secondary School YouTube.
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This article is part of the JAPAN Forward English essay series, "Ignite." The authors are Showa Women's University students who hope to broaden awareness among their global counterparts and contribute to the dialogue on the urgent issue of girls' education.
Author: Yuki Mogami
Showa Women's University ー Sakura Project Team
Senior, Japan Showa Women’s University
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