Transforming Tanzanian schools with Technology

I've returned from Tanzania today where we set up projects in 3 more schools in Kigoma and Tabora, so students can use and create digital content for the first time, particularly in science where there is a great shortage of teachers.

We also met African Child Projects and are collorating with them to improve connectivity in the remote rural schools we work with so that they can access online materials, collaborate with other schools and participate in our online webinars with Pixl International and others. 

Similarly we met Femina Hip, who produce a quarterly magazine and online materials about girls empowerment which we will help promote to the schools we support, as well as organise joint webinars. 

Alpha, a teacher at Ikondo and our local rep for Kagera, spoke at the State of the Map Tanzania conference we helped organise about our project where schools map the villages where their students travel from, to demonstrate the need for hostels and prioritise which girls get places. You can see his presentation here. 

Last year we organised a very successful webinar for International Womens' Day called Reach for the Stars, where 4 inspiring Tanzanian women talked about their careers. The recording is here.    We are repeating this event for 2023, in collaboration with the organisation Inspiring Girls, where we are setting up the Tanzanian chapter, so watch this space!

Thank you again for your generosity which allows schools in Tanzania to use technology to support their students' learning, and best wishes for 2023. 

Janet 

Even with improved internet connections data is still a challenge so we have been collaborating with many groups in Tanzania and beyond to collate suitable free educational content that can be used offline via raspberry pi devices or shared via SD cards and flash drives.

In September we hosted a webinar with over 50 participants and speakers from Pixl International, Affordable Computers and Technology Tanzania, Africa Child Projects and Learning Equality, in which we shared good practice and agreed on ways to collaborate going forwards. 

Everyone agreed that access to educational content has huge impact, particularly in schools where resources like books are scarce, and connectivity allows cooperation between schools where they can learn from each other, as well as attend events to widen horizons. 

As Hollo, a young mother from Tumaini Open School said

"The use of computers is the solution, it has overcome the shortage of books in our mini-library.

As a young mother it has given me a second chance, it has increased my confidence to do well in my exams and achieve my dream of becoming a lawyer."

If you would like to know more please see the recording here. and get in touch if you have any suggestions for free offline content or have any questions.

Thank you again for your generosity in supporting this project. 

Janet