Bold Moves, Bigger Impact!
At Twende, we believe that locally-driven innovation holds the key to solving Africa’s biggest challenges. This year marks a decade of impact for us, and we’re taking bold steps to make that vision a reality. Through our focus on sustainable solutions, community-led technologies, and widespread innovation, we’re empowering individuals and transforming lives.
The first quarter of 2024 has been incredibly exciting, and we’re thrilled to share a glimpse into all the action happening on the ground.
(Pictured above: Key partners of the Design for Second Life Innovations Project during the launch event in January.)
Programs and Projects
Design for Second Life Innovations
The year began with the launch of our Design for Second Life Innovations project alongside MIT D-Lab, KOICA, and Samsung. This international collaboration, also implemented in Uganda and South Sudan, is driving grassroots innovation!
In Tanzania, we’ve conducted 2 Creative Capacity Building (CCB), 2 refine, and 2 basic business skills workshops, leading to the development of 7 promising prototypes by 44 participants.
(Pictured above: Witness, our Education Coordinator, guiding participants in one of the hands-on workshops.)
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What We Missed, What You Missed! Dear Friend of Twende, From September 25th to 27th, we celebrated a momentous milestone – a decade of impact!
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Empowering Women with Clean Energy
Our Female-Led Solar Solutions project, in partnership with Australian Volunteers, is transforming lives in rural communities. Through hands-on “Build It” workshops, we’ve equipped 91 women and girls with the skills to build solar panels and champion clean energy. Their impact is already visible – 10 homes now have access to electricity thanks to their efforts!
(Image Caption: Epifania guiding women from Lokii Village on how to assemble a solar circuit.)
Innovation in Education
We’re nurturing young innovators!
Our Innovation Club reached 56 St. Jude students, and we empowered 15 Braeburn International School youngsters with a hands-on Build It workshop.
Their excitement was clear! Students loved the hands-on experience and are eager for more sessions.
Pictured Above: Amani, our Workshop Manager, guiding a student during one of the Build It Workshops.
Bikepreneur Project
We’re excited about the ongoing progress of our Bikepreneur project, launched in January in partnership with ABC Impact and Westerwelle Startup Haus Arusha.
This initiative empowers young people with the skills and resources to build sustainable bike-based businesses based on Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Bike Mechanics.
From the 2nd of April – the 6th, Twende will conduct a Creative Capacity Building Workshop with 16 participants.
Pictured above: (Courtesy of ABC Impact) Alumni of the first Bikepreneur program during one of the bike mechanics sessions.
Mentorship for Growth
Partnering with Venture Capital For Africa (VC4A), we’re training 10 mentors to support startups in attracting capital. Our Mentor Driven Capital (MDC) program is already making a difference since we are halfway through the train-the-trainer phase. We’re excited to see how these mentors will empower startups to secure the funding they need to grow.
Calling All Mentors!
Are you a business professional with a passion for supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs? Join our Mentor Driven Capital program and gain the skills needed to become an exceptional mentor.
This is your chance to make a real difference in the lives of game-changing founders. Deadline to apply is April 19th. Not sure if it’s right for you? Share your contact details, and we’ll gladly follow up.
Meet our new Board Chair
Join us in welcoming our new but not so new board chair, Ellen Mndima. She took the baton from Jim in December and has been rocking it since then. Ellen is a communications specialist at Maliasili and a former Executive Director of Twende. With a background in Irrigation Engineering from Arusha Technical College, she is a true multi-potentialite and one of those rare individuals who seamlessly blend art and science in their work. We’re thrilled to have her leadership and unique perspective guiding Twende forward!
New Directors in Town!
We are incredibly proud of our senior staff Epifania Wilbard and Chris Mushi. Epifania, who has been at the helm of our programs for 5 years, is now promoted to Director of Programs. Her passion for creating impact and her dedication to our participants shine through in all she does. Chris Mushi, our lead trainer and one of Twende’s founding members, is now the Director of Tech, Innovation & Training. His infectious enthusiasm for innovation and deep technical knowledge inspire teams and participants alike. We are so grateful for their work, spirit of continuous learning, and the exceptional leadership they provide within Twende.
From the Team
- Witness Shangali is our new Education Coordinator, working closely with the Elimu (Education) Team.
- Four of our team members are now fully certified Creative Capacity Building Facilitators by MIT D-Lab (Pictured above alongside our Co-Founder, Bernard)
- Witness will soon participate in EU’s Makers-in-Residency 2.0 Program, where she’ll learn from some of the best makerspaces in Europe. We’re excited for her to bring back new knowledge to share!
- Chris is currently enrolled in the EU Make Venture Building Program, focusing on his lentils hulling technology. This training will provide him with the business expertise to take his venture to the next level.
- Luqman is completing his VC4A entrepreneurship course (separate from MDC) and eager to apply his skills within Twende.
- Nzira has been appointed as the board chair of Kyaro Assistive Tech
Up Next!
- Little by Little Campaign: Join us for GlobalGiving’s Little by Little Campaign, April 8th-12th! Donations up to $50 will be matched, doubling your impact. Let’s make a BIG difference together.
- Learning & Partnerships: Nzira and Epifania are heading to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in April/May for partner meetings and networking. We’ll also be at the Pan-African event on Finance on Green & Blue Economy May 9th in Zanzibar!
- Mark Your Calendars! Save the date for our 10th anniversary celebration, September 25th–27th! We’re marking a decade of impact, and you’re invited to join the festivities. More details to come soon!
- 2023 Annual Report: Get ready! Our 2023 annual report, showcasing our impact over the past year, will be released in May.
