Category Archives: Community

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Sixteen days of unlearning, learning and relearning around climate change in Hamburg, Germany

Abdallah, community gatherer at SHIPO, had the honour of representing Tanzanian youth in the 2022 DAKA Exchange Program as a climate change activist and environmental enthusiast. He was one of 10 youths selected for the program. The initiative links educators, social workers, and environmental and climate change activists from Hamburg, Germany and Tanzania. This was his experience:

I was pleased to discover that Hamburg is almost entirely green when I arrived. When I asked my hosts how they do it, they responded that the main factors contributing to the city’s green status are tree conservation and city planning. Because Hamburgers value nature, the necessity of conservation has been emphasized in all engineering and building designs, and each person is taking personal responsibility for it.

We spent the first week looking at some similarities between Tanzania and Germany with our Hamburg colleagues (Dar es Salaam – Hamburg in particular). We were able to investigate certain ongoing projects, such as waste management programs, educational programs, and community centres, and their functions in transforming social problems into workable and long-lasting solutions through cooperative systems.

Experiences from Week Two.

The second week’s activities were primarily focused on indoor workshop learning and practical workouts on a variety of subjects, including sustainability and education, climate change, decolonization and system changes for former German colonies in Africa, and mental health in relation to current affairs of crisis, COVID-19, and climate injustice. As we applied our daily community intervention activities, we were also given coaching on facilitation strategies, public speaking, and appreciative inquiry procedures during the learning sessions.

Night of networking and presentation for personal activities. 

We had the opportunity to interact with and network with invited experts, Hamburg City employees, teachers, and other stakeholders during this session. As a young climate activist, I was humbled to be given the opportunity to exhibit the work I love to do the most in my category. On that day, I discussed how community involvement and cleanups might help to address the issue of improper trash management. People gained knowledge from my presentation regarding waste and brand audit (WABA) and data exchange among the crucial community stakeholders.

Take home learning and opportunities.

1. I discovered the importance of community centres and open playgrounds in preserving urban environments and ecologies. I believe we can engage the regional authorities of Njombe within the “Multi-stakeholder climate action plan” to explore that and to incorporate it into their urban planning initiatives.

2. Networking with Hamburg-based transformational leaders who work in the permaculture, composting, and recycling businesses. The establishment of an upcycling centre, where residents of the neighbourhood drop off their used and/or unwanted items like clothing, books, shoes, and other home necessities, was one of the best ideas I’ve ever seen. When people in need pass by the shop, they can choose the items they need and donate any small sum of money they can afford or wish to.

3. First week of November the colleagues from Germany will also visit Tanzania, and it was advised that all youths from Tanzania who visited in Hamburg should also meet in person and have sessions for 10 days in order to make them (participants) from Hamburg to explore more about Tanzania and learn as we did in Germany. 


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Linking and learning workshop

Category : Community , Education

SHIPO led a linking and learning workshop on participatory approaches in community development for Tanzanian organizations that work with Wilder Ganzen. The goal of Wilde Ganzen is to help poor people become more self-sufficient in their basic needs. Persuaded that by allowing communities to set their own priorities, they become change agents rather than recipients of aid. In this case, Wilde Ganzen has started a movement aimed at ending poverty from the ground up and promoting community-based development.

With this movement, there is hope that these organizations will be inspired and enabled to work on long-term poverty reduction not only for themselves but also (where possible) in collaboration with local communities.

Download and read the full report:


Boresha Elimu updates Q1 & Q2 2022

Tags :

Category : Community , Education

Summary of activities implemented grouped under project outputs

Improve Parents Engagement on Education Process of the Children

From April to May 2022, SHIPO, in collaboration with the Mbozi District Welfare Office and the Police Gender Desk, held a one-day public awareness meeting in 7 villages identified as having high child labour and violence against children’s rights. By June 2022, School Reports indicated an increase in parent attendance at quarterly school meetings from 1,174 (569-F; 695-M) parents in 2021 to 1,819 (848F; 971M) parents by June 2022.

In April to May 2022, SHIPO held a one-day strategic meeting with child rights and protection commit-tees in the mentioned vulnerable 7 villages to discuss how to address child rights and protection challenges by identifying children at risk and developing a plan to address issues at the school level.

Increased school attendance among girls and boys

From the 20th of May to the 17th of June 2022, 280 girls clubs members, 400 girls and boys (200F; 200M) child rights clubs, and 400 girls and boys (200F; 200M) health and environment clubs students in 20 schools received a one-day refresher training. They are based on the ability to recognize safe contraceptive devices for managing MHM in schools and at home, as well as safe methods for storing and disposing of used menstrual equipment, the relationship between menstrual hygiene and health, the concept of safe menstruation, and menstrual biology. Also, 400 boys were trained about gender competencies including MHM knowledge. 

Improved teaching quality in target schools

The purchase and provision of 31 desks since May 2022. Regarding the type and size of commonly produced desks, the desk-to-student ratio in this Grade-I decreased from 1:5 in an unusual ratio to 1:3 in a normal ratio so as to an improved learning environment observed where 93 boys and girls (47F; 46M) Grade-I students at Igamba Primary School who were seated down during learning in class benefited.


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TRAINING OF TRAINERS WORKSHOP ON PLANNING AND DESIGNING RURAL WATER SUPPLY NETWORKS

From the 6th to the 11th of September, the ToT workshop took place at SHIPO building, Njombe, with the participation of 18 RUWASA project designing team members from the Southern zone: Njombe, Iringa, Mbeya, Songwe and Rukwa regions.

The main goal of the workshop was to train theoretic-practically engineers and technical people from the Southern zone of Tanzania on planning and designing rural water supply networks with the aim of filling in their knowledge gaps and of capacitating them to transfer that knowledge to their colleagues.

Experts from relevant institutions in the sector of water in Tanzania facilitated the training: 2 trainers from the Project Design Department in RUWASA HQ, one trainer from the Water Institute and one trainer from Nyasa Basin Water Board. In addition, an expert from Integrated Engineering Associates (IEA), Cameroon, acted as a coach for trainers and organizers during the training.

The six-day training consisted of 3 days of theory and 3 days of practical work. Common knowledge gaps in reporting and technical issues were the focus of the theoretical part. The practical part started with a site visit to a real project in Nyombo village (Njombe DC). With the relevant data taken from the field, the trainees designed the water supply system. Afterwards, divided in teams, the participants designed projects from their regions. This was done with the close support of the trainers. Finally, each team developed and presented their plan on how the peer to peer learning is going to take place and how they are going to design their projects.

The participants showed a lot of commitment and interest and according to the evaluation, in general, the participants were very satisfied with the workshop as it will help them develop professionally.

Next steps

In the coming months, SHIPO will follow-up and monitor the activities carried out by the different teams according to their action plans. the knowledge-transfer to their colleagues and the quality of the project designs.


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MAMMIE III Achievements January to March 2021

Category : Community , Education

SHIPO via its MAMMIE project planned and conducted the following activities in the period from January to March 2021:

Distribution of vegetable seeds in the project schools

Distribution and planting supervision of 8 types of vegetable seeds in all 24 schools was done in January 2021 where each school received vegetable amounts as per below summary:

  • Chinese cabbage 208g
  • Carrots 208g
  • Sukuma wiki 125g
  • Cabbage 167g
  • Onions 125g
  • Swiss chard 125g
  • Mchicha 167g
  • Pumpkin 833g

8,451 pupils including 4,251 boys and 4,200 girls; and 181 teachers including 89 male and 92 female are the expected beneficiaries of the undertaking.

Distribution of avocado seedlings in the project schools

A total of 440 avocado seedlings were distributed in the 4 newly recruited project schools namely: Figanga, Masaula, Sambala and Mbwila primary schools. The activity was done in January 2021. A total of 832 pupils (429 boys, 403 girls) and 21 teachers (15 male, 6 female) will benefit from the project that is also intended to improve the pupils’ nutrition as well as stabilizing the institution economic statuses.

Along with the seeds and seedlings, SHIPO managed to supply the gardening tools to all 24 schools where each school received the following:

  • 5 Hoes           
  • 2 Rakes
  • 3 Watering canes     
  • 10 Buckets    
  • 5 Weeding hoes       

Monitoring of school gardens and avocado plantations in the project schools

All the 24 project schools’ gardens and avocado plantations were monitored. The supervisory visits were made by both SHIPO and government using their community development officer and ward agricultural extension officers respectively. The benefiting schools were advised on the proper agricultural practices of managing the gardens and plantations.  All the schools had harvested and provided vegetables in the pupils’ school meals. 18 out of the previous 20 project schools had harvested avocado fruits where some were provided to pupils and the remaining sold to obtain funds that resolved some schools’ challenges including procurement of teaching aids and paying subsistence allowances for the volunteering teachers.

Participation in the training and dissemination of the national biofortification guidelines

SHIPO participated in the training and dissemination of the national biofortification guidelines that happened at SHIPO conference on the 3rd February 2021 under the facilitation of The Principal Agriculture Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture. The following were achieved:

  • The national bio-fortification guidelines meeting was successful conducted as planned, and participants were very cooperative in sharing their thoughts towards improving the nutrition status in the region.

Provision of learning materials in the 24 project schools.

The textbooks were successfully distributed to all the 24 schools from the 16th to 18th March 2021. The benefiting pupils, teachers and school leadership were very grateful for the notable support as the respective subjects and classes; that is STD IV Science and Technology and STD V Social Skills textbooks were completely missing in all schools.  Since the pupils to book ratio was 16 pupils: 1 book (2020) while the expected ratio is 10 pupils: 1 book (2021); extra efforts are needed to lessen the challenge that can greatly affect the pupils learning outcomes.

Post the textbooks distribution, there is still a notable deficit of the books where reference is made to the survey made. The survey indicated that 984 STD IV science and technology books and 927 STD V social skills books were needed. Since 525 STD IV Science and technology books and 520 STD V books were distributed; this denotes a deficit rate of 47% and 44% respectively; hence a call for more support from both government and the development stakeholders.

The support directly benefited 2205 pupils (1117 boys, 1088 girls). Since the pupil to book ratio has improved expectations are towards advancement of the learning outcomes in the 24 project schools.


LUDEWA TEACHERS TRAINED ON THE 3R COMPETENCIES

27 teachers from Madope, Lubonde, Milo, Mlangali, Mawengi and Luana wards benefited from the residential INSET on pedagogical competencies linked to the new syllabus on reading, writing and arithmetic. The training was conducted at SHIPO from 7th June 2021 through 16th June 2021. A total of 24 primary schools were involved in the training that was honored by Mr Joseph Lupogo who represented the Regional Education Officer.

The objective of the training that was facilitated by Vikindu Teachers College was to improve the learning outcomes of pupils in the project schools; thus a need to help teachers to:

  • Improve their capacity to teach the trained reading, writing and arithmetic topics
  • Identify, prepare and use teaching aids or tools relevant to topic and environment and capacitate other teachers who did not attend the training on these skills and techniques.
  • Prepare and capacitate other teachers who did not attend the training on how to teach the trained reading, writing and arithmetic topics and how to prepare lesson plan for their daily teaching/learning process.
  • Use different books (text books, supplementary and teachers’ guide) when preparing lesson notes in class and capacitate other teachers on the same

Upon returning to their working stations, the benefiting teachers will use the prepared schedule to apply the newly acquired knowledge and practices.

Both government employed and community hired teachers were regarded during the training. Out of the invited 28, 27(96.43%) participated. They were very grateful for the opportunity and calls for the government and stakeholders to ensure good teaching and learning environment via their collective efforts. Doing so would advance education provision and consequently improve the general school academic performance


SHIPO UNDERTAKES A RESIDENTIAL TRAINING FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEES

48 school committee members from Madope, Lubonde, Milo, Mlangali, Mawengi and Luana wards benefited from the residential training conducted by SHIPO from 21st June 2021 through 25th June 2021. A total of 24 primary school were involved in the training that addressed leadership, management and school administration

The training was honored by his Excellency Marwa Rubirya, the Njombe Regional Commissioner and facilitated by the experts from the Agency for Development of Educational Management (ADEM). Apart from the 48 school committee members, the training was also attended by the Acting Regional Education Officer, District officials including: District Academic Officer, District statistics and logistics officer, and the District school Quality Assurer. The 6 ward education officers of the respective wards also participated.

Basically, the training aimed at taking the members through the following training subjects:

  • Formulation, roles and responsibilities of School Committees
  • School governance, students and staff welfare
  • Community resources mobilization and management
  • Management of school funds
  • School Quality Assurance Framework and Handbook (tools)
  • Development of a supervision program for the 24 schools for the next 3 years
  • Whole School Development Planning (including evaluation of the 2018-2020 Whole School Development Plan and preparation of the 2021-2023 Plan).

Participants were very grateful for the opportunity and calls for the government and stakeholders to guarantee support in realizing the whole school development plan targets. Doing so would advance education provision and consequently improve the general school academic performance of the 8332 pupils including 4213 boys and 4119 girls in the project schools.

Mavala primary school committee chairperson enjoying with the MAMMIE Education Cup after receiving it from the guest of honor.

SHIPO Celebrates Global Action Week for Education ‘GAWE’

SHIPO under the WeWorld support celebrated GAWE on the 6th May 2021. The event that was globally arranged to happen from 26th through 30th April 2021, took place at Mavala primary school. SHIPO could not celebrate it on the very week due to schooling and curricula schedule interferences. The event theme was financing education.

The 2021 GAWE objectives included: community awareness raising for them to contribute in education provision improvement, addressing the education challenges and commitment on their resolutions, and general community awareness raising on the importance of education. There was also a side demonstration regarding plastic recycling that aimed at environment preservation thereby adding value to improving teaching and learning environment.

The event was attended by 703 participants including: 361 males and 342 females. The stakeholders involved: pupils, parents, teachers, religious leaders, journalists and authorities ‘village, ward and district levels’. The neighboring schools comprising: Milo, Luvungo and Mapogoro were also invited. It was honored by his Excellency John Makorere, the District Education Officer who represented the District Commissioner. The event was outrivaled by choirs, poems, sports, shows, music performances and speeches from various invitees and front-runners.

Stakeholders from countless viewpoints are welcomed to collaborate in these endeavors that are organized yearly to ensure Education Excellency that would consequently guarantee potential graduates thus quality social services and holistic community development.


Boresha Elimu Mbozi 2021 Q1 updates

Boresha Elimu Mbozi, the project implemented by SHIPO in collaboration with Mbozi District Council under the support of Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation (PCF) keeps moving forward. The main activities conducted from January to April 2021 are the following:

Two days refresher training to child protection committees, conducted at village level in 19 villages

The reason behind this activity/output is to improve parents engagement in education process of the children.

SHIPO in collaboration with Gender Desk, Welfare Officers and Community Development officers from Mbozi District, conducted a 2 days refresher training to child protection committees in each village within the project coverage (19 villages). The main purpose of the training were to remind the committees members about their responsibilities and raising and reporting the child abuse cases. This activity reached directly 412 (Males 259 Females 153) child protection committee’s members at village level.

SHIPO together with local government authorities (LGAs) from Mbozi District conducted a refresher awareness creation meeting on child rights among parents and the community members in each of the 20 schools’ villages in five wards.

The output of this was to improve parents engagement in education process of the children. The topics discussed in the meetings were: childs rights, how to keep children safe in their surrounding environment, how to raise child in good manner and safe one, how to engage on their childrens education so as to raise their performance. This activity reached 2,500 (1,500 male, and 1,000 female) parents/community members. The methods which were used during the creation of awareness are public address system, questions and answers and group discussion.


Water Resource Integration Development Initiative (WARIDI)

Improve health and water supplies management to 89,468 people in Tanzania through support of 22 existing Community Owned Water Supply Organizations (COWSOs) in 30 villages of Njombe District Council.

Project Code

TZNJ104

Project Donor

USAID / WARIDI Tanzania

Project Budget

Tshs 292,138,856 out of which Tshs 255,239,774 were provided by USAID and tshs 36,899,082 by grantees.

Project Time Frame

Implementation: June 2018 to June 2019

Project Location

This Project was located at 22 villages in Njombe region: Igongolo/Kivitu, Itipingi, Ibiki, JM Makweta secondary school/upami/ilengititu, Ibumila/Ikando, Ikuna, Ninga, Kidegembye, Image, Matembwe, Wanginyi, Lupembe, Igombola, Ikondo, Nyave, Ukalawa, Madeke, Mfriga, Itambo, Iwafi, Lwanzali, Tove-Mtwango, Ikang’asi, Welela, Nyombo, Isitu, Kichiwa and Maduma.

Project beneficiaries

89,468 people part of 22 existing COWSOs.

Project Description

This project addresses issues relating to improvements of water supplies and health in the community through conducting community awareness raising activities and build to all expected/ and registered COWSOs the capacities to manage and govern water resources, adaptation to the impacts of climate change, improving hygiene and sanitation and inclusion of women and youths in community development projects especially in COWSOs formation, registration, formulation, operation and maintenance.

Objectives

  1. Start-up Activities /LGA and other stakeholders to determine WASH situation at Njombe District Council (initial assessment)
  2. Develop local government authority (LGA) capacity Building Plan for COWSO and Preparation Training Modules
  3. Capacity Building and Implementation of COWSO Action Plan
  4. On-going COWSO District Action Plan

Organizations / Businesses / Government Agencies Involved to Implement the Project

  • SHIPO Tanzania
  • LGAs
  • Communities
  • COWSOs leaders
  • Water supply attendants (including artisans)
  • CWST
  • Registrar
  • WARIDI team

Project Status

The Project was successfully completed.

Project report