In a remote village tucked deep in the Usambara Mountains of northern Tanzania, where winding dirt roads meet the clouds, a chance encounter in 2020 marked the beginning of a remarkable transformation.
Dagmara Ikiert, the founder of Uvi Foundation for Education, had just opened a small meeting point in Mtae—the very first Uvi project. She didn’t speak Kiswahili, had never worked with children before, and the tiny building, meant for 30 kids, was flooded daily with over 150 eager students. “I was overwhelmed,” she recalls. “I didn’t understand anything—the heat, the noise, the chaos. And then I heard a calm voice behind me say, ‘Good afternoon Madam.’”
She turned around and saw a small girl with a shaved head and the kindest, most curious eyes she had ever seen. That girl was Lidya Gasper. “She smiled and asked me about my day. I told her not to call me Madam, but Dagmara—and the rest is history.”
Four years later, Lidya has become not only one of Uvi Foundation’s brightest success stories but someone Dagmara proudly calls her daughter. “She is one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met. Her story is proof that courage can take you very far. I hope it inspires many other students in Mambo and Mtae to believe in their own potential. Lidya is an amazing role model.”
Early challenges, a cuter unfolds
Born in Dar es Salaam in 2009, Lidya moved to Mtae for primary school, where the quality of education—especially in English—was limited. She recalls learning only disconnected phrases like “good morning” and “excuse me” without truly understanding them.
When she joined Uvi Foundation in 2021, everything changed. Through consistent tutoring, access to computers, and fierce self-discipline, Lidya made stunning progress. She learned English by watching subtitled videos, studying independently, and seizing every opportunity to speak. In just two years, she went from struggling to read to confidently writing and teaching others.
But her journey took a difficult and unexpected turn just as she was reaching a breakthrough. When she was first accepted into the Oxford School for Future Journalists—a highly competitive program offered by Harbinger’s Magazine—both she and Dagmara knew this could be a life-changing opportunity. But before the program could begin, the aunt Lidya was living with suddenly took her back to Dar es Salaam—without notice or discussion—preventing her from participating in the online sessions.
Lidya didn’t give up. Even in Dar, where she had no regular access to a phone or internet, she called Dagmara daily, often borrowing shopkeepers’ phones, trying to stay connected to the opportunity she had worked so hard for. She shared contact numbers of relatives and pleaded for help. With quiet determination and help from her grandmother and other aunties, Dagmara was finally able to speak directly with Lidya’s father—and convinced him to send her back to Mambo.
From that point forward, Lidya and Dagmara began living together. It quickly became clear that this wasn’t just a temporary arrangement—it was family. “We knew,” Dagmara says, “that we had chosen each other. She became my daughter.”
From learner to a born leader
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Lidya is now deeply involved in almost every core activity of Uvi Foundation. She plays a leading role in organizing and running the Foundation’s music project, where she is a singing teacher, video director, camerawoman, and editor. She also helps write official letters to schools and parents, coordinates tutoring activities, and supports younger students with patience and passion.
In 2023, she made a bold and selfless decision. Although she had earned a scholarship to UWC Moshi, a prestigious international school with a price tag of $26,000 per year, Lidya felt uncomfortable receiving such a large investment for herself alone. She persuaded her sponsor to redirect those funds—transferring her to MWK School in Bagamoyo, where other Uvi students studied, and instead receiving online classes from Polish teachers.
At MWK, Lidya has become a powerful advocate for student rights. She speaks out against religious discrimination, corporal punishment, and unfair treatment—issues still present in Tanzanian schools despite being officially banned. “Even in progressive schools, some teachers can’t seem to comply with the rules,” she observed.
Attending an international school opened Lidya’s eyes to the world. Her time at UWC Moshi, although brief, reshaped her ambitions. What began as a desire to be a nurse evolved into a goal of becoming a biologist—a path she hopes will allow her to study ecosystems, conservation, and the human connection to nature.
In her own words, education gave her “the courage to dream big.” She’s now preparing for further studies through hybrid and online methods, blending global exposure with local leadership.
Hurtful standards
Lidya is also a correspondent for Harbinger’s Magazine, where she writes compelling articles on gender equality, conservation, youth leadership, and the beauty of Tanzania. Her journalism gives voice to rural students, highlights injustice, and celebrates stories often overlooked by mainstream media.
Her writing is not just a skill—it’s a form of advocacy. She uses it to challenge norms, question systems, and invite young people—especially girls—to step into their power. Lidya is a remarkable community leader with a creative soul.
Through her work with Uvi Foundation, Lidya has organized service projects, environmental clean-ups, cultural performances, and educational visits to places like Mkomazi National Park and Fish Eagle Point. She’s a natural project leader, guiding teams with empathy and joy.
In every role—whether as singer, teacher, director, or activist—Lidya brings her whole self. Her creativity is matched by her conviction. She leads with kindness and teaches by example.
Why is Lidya’s story important?
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Resilience – From struggling with basic English to leading and teaching in it.
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Integrity – Choosing equity over prestige when offered an elite education.
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Leadership – Guiding others through music, teaching, and outreach.
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Courage – Speaking truth to power, even in uncomfortable settings.
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Vision – Dreaming of a better world, and doing the work to build it.
Looking Ahead
Now 16, Lidya Gasper continues to build bridges—between communities, between ideas, and between generations. She dreams of studying biology, but also of returning to Mtae as a leader, mentor, and changemaker. She wants to see more girls from her village achieve what once seemed impossible.
Through the support of Uvi Foundation, her own determination, and a deep sense of justice, Lidya has proven that with courage and compassion, even the most remote voices can become powerful forces of change.
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