Tese Foundation

Reviewed by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation
Fundraise

0% complete

$60,000 Goal

Every year, many Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) students from historically oppressed communities drop out of school because they do not have the support nor the financial means to complete their education. The TESE Foundation addresses this challenge, the so-called “opportunity gap” head-on, by providing quality and relevant wrap-around educational supports to BIPOC teens so that they may complete high school and jumpstart their chosen careers.

At TESE, we work with students in the Bay Area in California, USA including Yolo and Solano Counties, as well as in Zimbabwe in Southern Africa. We travel to local schools, libraries, and International Houses to read stories and teach children about diversity while promoting literacy. We partner with youth in order to bring diversity awareness and increase literacy while creating more opportunities for BIPOC teens. This work is directly informed by the first-hand experience of our founder, Dzokerayi Minya, a woman of color, with the hardships BIPOC youth are facing compared with their peers.

Tese Foundation has been partnering with youth since 2015. 90% of our students have been able to stay in school up until they graduate. This is a huge jump from the roughly 50% of students who usually drop out of school even before final exams. 



Mission

TESE Foundation arose from advocating and improving the lives of Black girls in the USA and beyond. Improving the lives of teen girls in the USA is in the form of leadership academy and a mentorship program. In developing countries like Zimbabwe, it is food and shelter as well as tuition. Every year, so many students drop out of school because they do not have the financial means to pay for tuition, uniforms, personal hygiene packs, and exam fees.

Needs

NEEDS

Our focus is on the whole child. After a decade partnering with young people from historically oppressed communities, we know the most likely path to their success includes the whole family. For example, people cannot pursue a path to education while they experience dire food insecurity. Alternatively, the Covid-19 crisis has exacerbated the technology divide and the challenges that lower-income students and students of color face in trying to access courses as well as information provided only virtually about anything from health to college to internships and jobs.

Cash Donations

Below is a list of items we need to address these inequities and strengthen our capacity to serve this community:

-An office space in downtown Davis, CA where youth can access resources in person

-A laptop library of 20 to 30 laptops that youth can use to apply for college scholarships and programs

-A vehicle for staff to transport youth and to conduct home visits more effectively

-Funds for career training and annual Leadership Camp

-Food vouchers, gift cards, gas vouchers, clothing gift cards

-Staff uniforms and youth t-shirts

Our organization relies on volunteers, and we have several key volunteer opportunities. Please email tesefoundation@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer in any of these areas.

Board members: responsible for steering the organization to a sustainable future and providing ethical, legal and financial leadership. Board term is 2yrs.

Volunteer coordinators: The base of our volunteers is our local college student groups. We are always looking for motivated people that work well with young adults. We require a one-year commitment to this position.

Event coordinators: some of our funds come from various events throughout the year. We consistently recruit event coordinators to help plan and implement fundraising events.

General volunteers for events and services.

Mentors: this is a one-year commitment for people who would like to mentor one of our girls interested in the work in your professional field

Drivers (all drivers must be background checked with a clean driving record and a current driver's license)

Equity Statement

Tese Foundation centers equity as its top organizational value. Equity to us means that all people; regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, zip code, health and ability status, or any other consideration will have equal dignity, value, and opportunity to participate justly, fairly, and fully in all our programs and to reach their full potential.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Tese Foundation

Year Established

2015

Tax id (EIN)

47-3812777

Mission Category

Education

Operating Budget

$0-$50,000

Organization Need

Funding: Program, Funding: Unrestricted, In-Kind Donations, Volunteers, Space: Office or Other, Technology

Demographics Served

Black/African American

BIPOC Leadership

Executive Director/CEO

Local Counties Served

Yolo

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

5009 Cowell Blvd
Davis, CA 95618

Service areas

Yolo, CA, US

Sacramento, CA, US

Solano County, CA, US

Phone

530 400 8759

Email

tesefoundation@gmail.com

Social Media