Lucia Kunambi
i want other girls in my village to know: your beginning does not determine your future
Career: Banking & Financial Services
Growing up in Mlali Village, Lucia learned resilience from the one person who embodied it daily—her mother. When Lucia was just two, her father, a dedicated primary school teacher, suffered a devastating stroke. Despite every effort to seek treatment, her father succumbed to the complications of the stroke. With four young daughters to raise and no formal education, her mother became the sole provider, brewing and selling traditional alcohol to keep her daughters in school. It was her steadfast belief in education that lit the path Lucia continues to walk.
Despite the uncertainty of her childhood, Lucia excelled in every classroom she entered. She earned top marks even in under-resourced schools, catching the attention of her former primary school principal, who recommended her for a scholarship at SEGA Girls’ Secondary School. At SEGA, Lucia received more than an education—she received the tools to rise. Life-skills training, entrepreneurship classes, mentorship, and emotional support gave her the solid foundation and confidence to keep building toward the future she envisioned.
With SEGA’s continued guidance, Lucia advanced to A-level studies at Mringa High School, where she graduated with top scores in Economics, Commerce, and Accountancy. In 2022, she was accepted to the University of Dar es Salaam to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Financial Services—an opportunity made possible through a U-GO scholarship in partnership with SEGA. She excelled at university and recently graduated in October 2025. Now, fully employed as an accountant at Cardinal Rugambwa Hospital in Dar es Salaam, she dreams of becoming a Certified Public Accountant—an ambition once out of reach due to financial constraints. And while she has had to postpone enrolling in CPA courses, she is determined to pursue certification as soon as she can.
But Lucia’s goals extend beyond her own career. Inspired by her mother’s sacrifices and the support of those who invested in her education, she hopes to create opportunities for other girls in her community through future businesses, employment pathways, and mentorship. For Lucia, success is meaningful only when it is shared. She now carries a profound sense of responsibility to give back. She hopes that one day, other girls in Mlali Village will look at her story and see a reflection of what is possible.