Twende Social Innovation Center
A brief overview of the organization's key achievements and impact.
As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with immense pride for what Twende has achieved. We have continued our mission to empower local communities to design and create technologies that address the challenges they face, and I am thrilled to say that we have made significant progress towards this goal.
In 2022, we reached an incredible milestone of empowering 763 individuals through our educational programs. This diverse group included 400 females and 363 males from all walks of life, from educated individuals to farmers, women's groups, and small entrepreneurs. It is through this diversity that we have been able to co-create and develop targeted social innovations, a way to solve problems and generate new opportunities for our communities.
From conducting workshops with schools, orphanages, and senior centres, to launching new programs like Women in Hardware Tech and incubating projects through Jamii Tech, we have continued to inspire and educate future innovators. Our outreach efforts have sparked greater awareness and interest in STEM education and careers, and we are proud to be a part of creating a nation of problem-solvers.
In addition, we have partnered with other organizations even beyond our borders to further strengthen our impact, conducting joint workshops and innovation events to showcase our work and generate interest in our cause. The impact we have made is tangible, as prototypes have been transformed into products for adoption, generating more opportunities for innovators and other users in the community.
As we move into 2023, we are committed to continuing our efforts to empower local communities with the knowledge and skills they need to shape their own futures and create sustainable solutions to the challenges they face. We are excited to see the impact our programs will make, and we welcome all who wish to join us in this mission.
Thank you to all who have supported us in this journey. Together, we can create a local technology sector that is globally competitive and improve the lives of those in our communities.
JohnRexfordNzira Executive Director
As an organization, we at Twende are focused on empowering local communities to design and create technologies that address the challenges they face in their own communities. We believe in co-creating and developing targeted social innovations as a way to solve problems and generate new opportunities.
To that end, we provide a maker space with tools and machines, as well as advice and support to grassroots innovators who are ready to turn their ideas into reality.
We work with approximately 40 students and innovators per month and run outreach workshops to inspire and educate future innovators.
In addition to this, we offer resources and technical mentoring to local innovators to help them develop their ideas into useful, targeted, and affordable products for their communities.
Our goal is to create a nation of problem-solvers and provide local communities with technology that meets their needs. We work with people of all backgrounds, including educated and uneducated individuals, students, farmers, women's groups, and small entrepreneurs.
We exist to empower local communities with the knowledge and skills they need to shape their own futures and create sustainable solutions to the challenges they face.
Mission Statement:
To empower local communities with the knowledge and skills to cocreate technological innovations that solve local challenges and generate new opportunities.
Vision:
A local technology sector that is globally competitive
Values:
Integrity, Excellence, Creativity & Co-Creation
Provide internationally recognized curriculum, workshops, makerspaces, technology training programs, satellite centers, innovation clubs, experienced training staff, technical mentoring, and business training through partnerships.
• Outreach workshops and innovation clubs generate interest in STEM and Twende training programs.
• Program participants acquire the knowledge and skills to cocreate technological solutions using the human-centered design approach.
• Innovators receive business support and technical mentoring to enable the launch of their technological products.
• Outreach workshop participants apply theory to create useful products.
• Program participants are trained to co-create technological innovations with their local community.
• Prototypes are transformed into products ready for adoption.
• Participants develop greater awareness of and interest in STEM education and careers.
• Participants possess innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills to design, make, and manufacture technologies that solve local problems.
• Technological products generated through the programs create more opportunities for innovators and other users in the community.
• Social and economic development occurs in communities as locally-made technologies that solve local problems are mass adopted.
The mass adoption of locally-made technologies leads to social and economic development in communities, resulting in improved living conditions, increased opportunities, and sustainable growth. By fostering greater awareness, interest, and skills in STEM education and careers, the programs contribute to building a more technologically capable and innovative society, driving progress and positive change.
763 individuals 400 females 363 males
In 2022, Twende's educational program reached an impressive total of 763 individuals, including a diverse mix of 354 females and 344 males. This marks a major milestone for our organization, as we have successfully reached out to a wide range of individuals from different backgrounds and empowered them with the knowledge and skills they need to co-create technological innovations that solve local challenges and generate new opportunities. We are excited to continue building on this success and to continue empowering communities to shape their own futures and create sustainable solutions to the challenges they face.
People
37 prototypes made
12 developed to testing
In our Creative Capacity Building program, we have had the opportunity to work with various communities in the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions to run 6 workshops. These workshops have been attended by 138 participants, including 71 females and 67 males. Through this program, we have helped participants develop a wide range of technologies that address challenges in various sectors.
6 workshops 138 participants
Our STEM outreach program aims to empower and inspire the next generation of problem-solvers! By introducing primary and secondary students, as well as other potential partners, to our work and the support we offer for implementing innovative ideas that solve community challenges, we are helping to nurture a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Through handson activities, such as small electronic projects related to class subjects like physics, we are giving students the opportunity to explore their interests and develop new skills. This year we reached out to 14 schools and empowered 430 students from various primary and secondary schools to apply the theoretical knowledge they learnt in school by putting it into practice. We are proud to be leading the way in empowering the next generation to create sustainable solutions to the challenges they face.
14 schools
430 students
This year, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a diverse group of schools and organizations to bring our build-it workshop program to even more people. Through our partnerships, we were able to conduct 10 workshops and reach a total of 152 participants. These workshops provided participants with the chance to learn how to design and create technologies that address challenges in their communities, and we are proud to have played a role in empowering people with the knowledge and skills they need to co-create solutions to the issues they face.
As Julius Nyerere so eloquently stated, "Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire." We believe that our build-it workshop program is not just about transferring knowledge, but rather about igniting a passion for learning and empowering our participants to think critically and independently as they work towards creating a brighter future for themselves and their communities. We are grateful for the support of our partners and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the communities we serve through our build-it workshop program.
10 workshops
152 participants
The Jamii Tech Incubation Program is a design program that brings together teams of Tanzanian community partners, young Tanzanians, and international design and engineering students to collaborate on solutions to problems identified by the community partners.
The program helps build confidence and competence in the design process and creative problem-solving, as well as encouraging local production and cross-cultural collaboration. This year, we invited students from four Tanzanian colleges and universities to team up with the local community due to travel restrictions.
The teams developed five technologies, including a maize peeler and thresher, a plastic shredder, a palm oil extractor, a potatoes peeler and cutter, and a biogas-powered iron box (which was not incubated in the program but will be incubated in the future).
Four of the technologies were included in the incubation program run by the Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Tanzania, which aims to equip them with business skills using digital tools. The four technologies that made it to the final incubation process are the plastic shredder, maize peeler and thresher, potatoes peeler and cutter, and palm oil extractor.
1 cohort 19 students
The Innovation Club program was designed to bring innovation and creativity education to groups of students who have expressed an interest in innovation. This year, we conducted one program with the School of St Jude, reaching out to 56 participants who developed 9 projects, including a beans sorter, an automatic flushing system, a shoe polisher, a broom, a peanut roaster, a chicken feeder, a water vendor, and a vegetable slicer. This program is a new addition to our offerings and we are excited to continue providing these opportunities for students to learn and grow in the areas of problem-solving, innovation and creativity.
9 projects
56 participants
A description of the results and outcomes achieved through the organization's programs and activities, including any metrics or data that demonstrate impact.
Firewood chopper, glass recycler, peanut peeler, Envelope molder, Vegetable cutter, eggs incubator, maize planter, bricks riser, Rice harvester, saucepan washer, garlic peeler, compost turnover, Ugali maker, Banana peeler, interlock bricks machine, Peanut sheller, Chicken feeder, Auto flashing toilet, Electric shoe polisher, Beans sorter, Water vender, Vegetable slicer, Peanut roaster, Bell timer, automated Broom, Gas oven, Electric bell, and Peanut sheller
Innovators: We have supported over 40 Innovators design and develop their own technologies
Andrew Rummel, International JTP Participant: I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to spend the summer in Arusha, Tanzania, working, learning, and laughing with the members of Twende. I partnered with Andrea Kulisha, an engineer from Dar Es Salaam and designed and built a device that can create interlocking earth bricks to aid in the construction of affordable housing. By the time I left, we had a working prototype and have almost completed registering as a Tanzanian company, “Tofali Zetu Company Limited.” This experience expanded my perspective, both professionally and personally. I am excited to continue to help develop this business and further my knowledge and skills in developmental economics and entrepreneurship. I want to give a special thank you to John Rexford Nzira for hosting and mentoring me while in Tanzania!!
Nilaina's Ralaiarimanana: My name is Nilaina Ralaiarimanana, a Civil and Environmental Engineering student from Madagascar studying in Japan. As a Jamii Tech Innovator, I've been working on the Interlocking Earth block machine, which creates bricks from soil/ dirt to solve housing challenges in rural Tanzania. This experience has enriched me in three ways: practical skills, diverse teamwork, and business knowledge. Unlike the theoretical focus of my university, Twende, through the Jamii Tech Incubation Program allowed me to apply my learnings practically. I'm excited to contribute to sustainable and affordable housing solutions.
Brittany Pulei, Braeburn's school teacher said: Your staff and workshop are amazing and a credit to each and every one of you. The children had an amazing day and were so proud of what they had made (Compasses) We will certainly be working with you in the future.
Witness Shangali: I participated in the CCB program in 2022 and I learnt how to use different tools during the program and how to work in a team. also I encourage other people to attend the CCB program because twende is a very good place to learn and practice.
• STEM outreaches have impacted the learning of students in schools through better performance
• New Build-It curriculum/ devices (flute, compass, water pump)
• Inclusion of international participants has made the exchange of knowledge and skills possible, also a cultural experience.
• High rating from participants (8.5/10)
• Mobile workshops conducted away from the main Makerspace
• 25+ technologies made and supported in the maker space
• Attained 2 Institutional Funders (AfriLabs & COSTECH)
• Launch of a new program - Innovation Clubs Increase in earned revenue
• More mission partners for our programs.
(Ashinaga, UWCEA, Braeburn, WAGI Labs, St Jude)
A description of the organization's leadership and governance structure, including details about the board of directors and any committees.
James Elsworth Claude Fisicaro
Abdul Dello
Ellen Mndima
Jack Foreman
Angela Damas
Board Chair
Deputy Chair Board Treasurer Board Member Board Member Board Member
Leora Copeland
Liz S.
Mukhammad Costa
Sandra Haukka
Faith Muange
Kemp Mihigo
Stanley Lauture
Fundraising Graphic Design
Website M & E
Photo Editing M & E Marketing
A section thanking and acknowledging the contributions of donors, volunteers, and other supporters.
Funding Partners
Segal Family Foundation
www.segalfamilyfoundation. org
Southern Africa Innovation Support www.saisprogramme.org
Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation
www.jmkfoundation.org
GlobalGiving
www.globalgiving.org
Membership
AfriLabs
www.afrilabs.com
IDIN Southern Africa Consortium
www.facebook.com/ idinsadc
Africa Makerspace Network africamakerspace.net
Mission Partners
Ashinaga
www.ashinaga.org/en
Kumasi Hive kumasihive.com
Westerwelle Startup Haus
Arusha
westerwelle-foundation. com/locations/wsh-arusha
Australian Volunteers
International www.australianvolunteers. com
Commission of Science and Technology
www.costech.or.tz
Senda Success
The Girls Foundation of Tanzania(TGFT) www. girlsfoundationoftanzania. org
The School of St Jude www.schoolofstjude.org
SIDO-Arusha
www.sido.go.tz
Babson College
www.babson.edu
Anza Entrepreneurs
