Happy International Women’s Day
Samiah Millycent, Gashora Girls Academy Dean of Students
“Equity has helped build the sisterhood culture at Gashora, where our differences become a rich ingredient for a vibrant community.”
Today we join the global community to celebrate women's incredible social, economic, cultural, and political achievements worldwide. Together we can work to realize a future where our differences are celebrated and viewed as a key to unlocking innovation, progress, and impact. Today we put the spotlight on women who #EmbraceEquity. I am honored to introduce you to one of those women, our very own Dean of Students, Samiah Millycent.
Would you please introduce yourself?
I am Samiah Millycent, and I am from Kenya. I attended my primary and secondary education in Kenya before moving to Uganda, where I completed my undergraduate degree in Education at Makerere University. I went on to earn my first master's in Project Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology. I am now pursuing a second master's in Educational Leadership from Liverpool John Moores University. Away from work, I am a wife and mother of 4 children; a son and three daughters. When my energies are high, you will find me dancing or hiking; when a bit low, you will find me reading a novel.
I am thrilled to have joined the staff of Gashora Girls Academy as the Dean of Students in 2022. My work involves daily interactions with students to ensure they grow and develop into vibrant young leaders.
We are thrilled to have you as our new Dean of Students at GGAST; what is a typical day for you?
My role entails coordinating the Whole Girl Program geared towards availing opportunities for growth beyond academics. Whole Girl Education is an approach that serves to secure the future of young women by implementing programs aimed at imparting life skills targeting the development of vital competencies.
My daily work at Gashora ensures that the Whole Girl curriculum comes to life, exposing the girls to other dimensions of their personal development. Students have growth opportunities, including leadership for themselves and others, giving back through community service, creating productive networks, and managing finances, among many others. These skills allow the girls to appreciate themselves as young women, understand the value of their contribution to society, and design individual paths that elevate their voices and abilities to influence a better society.
A close follow-up on the student's progress allows me to establish personal connections and provide individualized support to optimize their success. It is always a joy to engage with the girls during workshops, listening to their plans for growth, supporting them in areas of challenge, and ultimately seeing them transform into resilient young women.
"GGAST is keen on creating partnerships and educational structures that value mentorship as a critical component in creating more opportunities for women to receive support as they progress through their education and careers. Embracing equity is not simply spoken about at GGAST; it is a value we believe in and live out wholeheartedly every day."
What have been your first impressions since arriving at GGAST?
"There is never a dull day at Gashora!" I first heard these words from the Head of School, and true to it, there is always something to look forward to at Gashora. The high degree of student agency is baffling as the girls take charge of passion projects and relentlessly seek support to see their projects come to fruition. Very rarely do I have to push hard for them to deliver! Their ability to challenge themselves and develop innovative solutions to everyday problems in and out of Gashora never ceases to amaze me.
What led you to a career in education, and what was your previous experience?
As early as 7, I had created a classroom at home with the wall of our chicken coup acting as my blackboard, and of course, my parents reprimanded me severely for writing on the walls with pieces of chalk or charcoal. Every time I ventured into my little classroom, I had a well-prepared lesson and labored to make my imaginary students understand. I remember always looking at my class teacher and headmistress in primary school with much admiration. When it was time to choose a course for my undergrad studies, I was sure I wanted to study education. Working with youth is such a joy as their thirst for knowledge challenges me to keep abreast with the most innovative teaching methods; subsequently, I find myself constantly improving.
I have not lived a day of my career outside of the education sector. My career took off in 2010 when I came to Rwanda as a language tutor at Kigali Independent University. Since then, I have worked with different higher learning institutions, including Akilah Institute, Vatel Rwanda, and African Leadership University. My roles have evolved between classroom teaching and administrative duties, allowing me to grow as an educator. While at Akilah, I taught communication courses and facilitated and mentored students with their Community Change Projects. It was a fantastic opportunity to see young women demonstrate the ability to identify critical issues within their communities and proceed to design projects that offered solutions to the community's needs.
Joining the African Leadership University as a Projects Course Facilitator, students identified real industry players with business challenges and researched and recommended practical solutions. It was rewarding to see students leverage the knowledge and experiences from their countries to demonstrate an ability to conduct in-depth research and propose innovative organization-specific solutions. The diverse student and staff community offered me profound learning and an appreciation of the uniqueness that diversity brings. Nothing is more fulfilling than meeting my former students who successfully lead change as they progress through their careers!
"Where there is equity, we are open to demonstrating our true potential because we are confident that we will be met with acceptance and enthusiasm and provided with the tools to thrive."
International Women’s Day (IWD) theme this year is #EmbracingEquity. You have worked in various roles in education, how have you seen a change in gender equity?
There have been numerous improvements in education to embrace gender equity and elevate the chances for women to excel. When I look back at the instructional strategies used when I started my career and compare them to the current practices, there is a vast difference. The intentional move to adopt strategies that increase opportunities for female learners to participate in the learning process is significant. Inclusive classroom spaces are now more evident in the instructional strategies used, as is the selection of instructional material to dispel biases. The number of female teachers teaching STEM courses has also increased. As a result, more female students are taking STEM courses as they have found role models who have boosted their confidence in taking STEM courses. I see more meaningful collaborations between both genders as there is more appreciation for women's contribution to the field.
GGAST is dedicated to supporting and promoting young women who wish to pursue STEM courses in astonishing ways. GGAST is keen on creating partnerships and educational structures that value mentorship as a critical component in creating more opportunities for women to receive support as they progress through their education and careers. Embracing equity is not simply spoken about at GGAST; it is a value we believe in and live out wholeheartedly every day.
Three of GGAST values are excellence, leadership, and community. How is equity at the center of those values?
Gashora is a diverse community that brings together staff and students from various backgrounds. In our differences, we strive to ensure that each voice is respected, heard, and honored for the uniqueness it brings to our community. We can only achieve true excellence, leadership, and community in an environment where everyone is treated respectfully and accorded optimal support to thrive in their specific capacities. To me, this belief accurately represents equity as a contributing factor in realizing our core institutional values.
" I love it when my parents, siblings, and husband call me Mwalimu (teacher). It is a constant reminder of their pride in me, which pushes me to put my best foot forward daily."
Our alumnae always mention the sisterhood at Gashora. How does a culture of equity help create this bond?
When individuals feel heard, respected, and valued for their contribution to the community, they are more inclined to reciprocate similar attitudes toward others. Eventually, they continue to complement each other and see the value of belonging to the community. Where there is equity, we are open to demonstrating our true potential because we are confident that we will be met with acceptance and enthusiasm and provided with the tools to thrive. Equity has helped build the sisterhood culture at Gashora, where our differences become a rich ingredient for a vibrant community.
Who has inspired you?
My family has been my biggest inspiration. They believed in me, supported me, and even now, they continue to cheer me on as I grow as an educator. I love it when my parents, siblings, and husband call me Mwalimu (teacher). It is a constant reminder of their pride in me, which pushes me to put my best foot forward daily.
