TEHAMA project summary

    „TEHAMA – computer technologies as a key to Kilimanjaro region development” project is done. Within 6 months we have renovated the computer classroom and equipped it in 21 modern computers, the printer and the projector. Moreover we have opened IT workshop, provided with 4 computers and additional office equipment like the laser printer, the scanner and the photocopier. All computers have an access to Internet and anti-virus security. We have also signed a contract with the local computer technician who will take care of all equipment and solve any problems.

During the implementation of the project we have run computer trainings for 180 people, among whom 144 people have finished the whole programme of lessons. After taking the final exam and getting at least 70% of points the participants have received the certificates confirming their computer knowledge on the intermediate level.

Teachers were priority but not the only one group of beneficiaries as in future they will pass computer knowledge and skills to the wide group of pupils. In the same time this knowledge will help teachers in their daily work, like preparing various materials, reports, data lists and exam results, creating certificates and other documents needed in school work.

The participants of the computer trainings were also officials (mostly from Moshi Municipal Council) and youth. Mr. Ally Shikony, TRC director and our local partner was responsible for admissions of participants.

The group of beneficiaries was very diverse. In the trainings have participated as men as women, people in various age (from 18 to 58). In one group there were together headmasters of primary schools and pupils from secondary schools, a director of the Education Department in the Municipal Council and a nurse, Muslims and Christians. The computer trainings were offered also to the staff of Mawenzi Teachers’ Resource Centre, where all lessons were conducted, to give TRC workers knowledge and skills to lead this kind of trainings in future by themselves.

The computer courses were lead by Simba Friends Foundation workers and volunteers. The team of trainees has consisted of: Aleksandra Gutowska, Wit Hubert, Marta Jurczak, Agata Jurkowska, Karolina Łebek, Katarzyna Tadla, Magdalena Trojanek, Lucyna Tumanowicz. Moreover the additional volunteers, Joanna Kubiakowska, Piotr Marciniak, Anna Stolpa and Jędrzej Witkowski, have taken part in the project, giving the basic trainings as well as lessons concerning the web site creating and managing.

Beside trainings in the same time we have given the additional lessons for all participants of computer courses. They have been held usually by four hours daily in the IT workshop, where people who had problems with the access to computers, could practice not only the new skills, gained during the trainings, but also they had a chance to prepare various documents and reports needed in their work as teachers using computers.

At the last part of the project’s implementation we have managed to run also additional activities. One of them was the course concerning the web site creating and managing. Its aim was to create Mawenzi Teachers’ Resource Centre’s web site mostly by TRC workers and co-workers (the best participants of the basic trainings). Information about resources and possibilities of studying in TRC through the web site will have a wider range and, thanks to it, more people will have a chance to use the TRC’s offer.

Furthermore, because we had saved some money in our project’s budget, we were able to buy additional 12 computers and distribute them to primary schools, which headmasters and/or teachers have been trained within TEHAMA project. Now they can use the gained computer skills in their work everyday.

During the implementation of the project we had to deal with various difficulties like: the location (some part of the TRC building, where IT workshop supposed to be placed, had burned due to a fire just before the realization of the project); a great delay in delivery of the computer equipment (it disturbed a lot in the planned trainings); low level of English language knowledge among participants (although English is an official language in Tanzania); time overlap of computer courses and national exams at schools (therefore some of participants could not take part fully in the courses). Nevertheless, thanks to determination and cooperation between Polish and Tanzanian people, we have overcome most of the problems.

During carrying out of TEHAMA project many volunteers have been involved in additional activities allowing them to know people, culture and daily life’s problems of Tanzanian inhabitants. Among other things they have been helping in Msamaria street children centre, conducting the interview with porters working for tourists climbing Kilimanjaro, collecting data to the science resources, visiting local organizations and other institutions helping in Tanzania.

Nowadays, Mawenzi Teachers’ Resource Centre, equipped in modern computers and other devices, offers computer trainings first of all to the teachers of public primary and secondary schools from Moshi district, but also to wider groups, interested in this kind of knowledge. Its offer TRC presents also on the own web site: www.mawenzitrc.org

Photographies from the project are available HERE