Segal Family Foundation Concludes Annual Meeting in Tanzania

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Jul 23, 2014, 01:07 ET

WATCHUNG, N.J., July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Segal Family Foundation (SFF) Annual Meeting concluded in mid-July with more than 300 leaders of African and international nongovernmental organizations inspired to go back to their local communities to address some of Africa's most difficult development challenges.

The Annual Meeting, held July 9-11 in Arusha, Tanzania, provided top leadership of African NGOs an opportunity to network, build relationships and gain new learning opportunities to achieve a greater impact in responding to development issues such as reproductive health and family planning and youth employment, among others.

SFF is a U.S.-based foundation that invests in African nongovernmental organizations and supports them in achieving their vision of development in their communities.

"Over the course of our three-day Annual Meeting in Arusha, SFF was deeply impressed with the passion and commitment of our partner organizations from across Africa who are in the forefront of driving change and delivering services in their communities," said Andy Bryant, SFF executive director.

Tanzanian First Lady H.E. Salma Kikwete delivered an address drawing attention to adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Tanzania. "[W]e need to join hands to step up advocacy with policy and decision makers to ensure that we have policies, laws and regulations that protect adolescent girls from bad habit and bad guys," said the First Lady.

A new partnership with SFF and Wanawake na Maendeleo Foundation (WAMA), an organization founded by the First Lady, will support a campaign to expand adolescent sexual reproductive health and life skills training programs for Tanzanian youth and advance girls education.

The Annual Meeting featured workshops and key issues impacting Africa, including a panel moderated by Jeff Koinange of Kenya Television Network and former CNN Africa correspondent. SFF's annual pitch competition showcased social innovations shared by NGO leaders, and interactive, team building activities like the "SFF World Cup" and a cooking competition were incorporated into the meeting.

Hosted by Millen Happiness Magese, former Miss Tanzania, SFF Awards Gala presented awards to: Annual Rising Star winners, Misan Rewane of WAVE and Humphrey Nabimanya of Reach a Hand Uganda; Angel for Africa winner, Kip Keino of Kip Keino Foundation; Creative Development winner, Peripheral Vision International; and Grassroots Champion Winner, Rafiki wa Maendeleo Trust. Wycliff Nackeel of EFAC was the poster contest winner.