Guest Blog.
Professor Chris Johnstone provides this week’s blog. Chris has partnered and traveled with ETI to Karagwe, Tanzania as head of the needs assessment and evaluation of ETI’s community development systems. He is a substantial asset and strong partner to ETI as the organization carries out community-inspired initiatives in developing areas.
Christopher J. Johnstone, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
In the summer of 2017, Educate Tanzania, Inc (ETI) will partner with the University of Minnesota’s Master of Development Practice (MDP) program to further its work on Opportunity Centers. ETI, hoping to build on its successful October 2017 launch of Karagwe University College (KARUCO) is exploring “Opportunity Centers” to facilitate community development in nearby communities to the university. Further, the centers will serve as a physical hub for leveraging the talents and skills of KARUCO graduates in support of community development.
Opportunity Centers are built on a successful Women’s Opportunity Center model in Rwanda. The ETI model is still under development, leading to the collaboration with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs’ MDP program. From May – July 2017, the team of Isabel Posada, David Wittman, and Tarere Eyimina will be tasked with conducting focus groups and participatory rural appraisal activities to better understand community needs and desires related to Opportunity Centers. The Team is supervised by this writer, oriented to Karagwe by ETI and assisted by Ms. Rachel Kakulima, a resident of Karagwe who is conducting doctoral work in Educational Leadership in Minnesota.
This project is based on a philosophy of reciprocal development and community-informed practice. ETI’s vision for Opportunity Centers is that they will be driven by the most pressing needs and the most desired services in their host communities. To this end, the organization has waited to share the over-arching plan for Opportunity Centers until community members have the opportunity to contribute ideas. Such contributions will take place through structured interviews this summer with MDP students.
Kudos to ETI for facilitating these activities and for moving forward with the Opportunity Centers project in a spirit of partnership with local stakeholders in Karagwe District.
Sharon Davis Design
Photography: Elizabeth Felicella & Bruce Engel
Christopher J. Johnstone, Ph.D. , Assistant Professor
211B Burton Hall
Hello Educate Tanzania,
My name is Jeff Francis. I have followed the ‘Educate Tanzania ‘ website for quite a long time and I’d love to mention that I am already planning to help my community. My father heads FADECO radio and as part of his project, there are already rooms that have been constructed in Nyakasumbi, about 37km from Kayanga town in Karagwe. Power has been extended to the rooms. I have seen the need to help my community and asked my dad to give me one classroom so that I can offer computer training to the people in and around/near that village. I have a good understanding of computers and so I’d love to extend the knowledge to others here. Maybe after this they will be able to employ themselves. And I’d love to be part of the groups of people who will meet the forth-coming MDP/UMN group from the U.S. when it comes in May. Thank you.
Jeff Francis
Hello Jeff,
The ETI team applauds your commitment to the common good of your people and community.We need more people with technology skills. I have forwarded your information to the university MDP team. (They have their own procedures for group selection but are always happy to hear from people who care about Karagwe.) Bless you. ETI Team
Hallow ETI
Thank you for getting back to me. It’s thrilling to learn that you people per there are having sleepless nights to have karagwe make steps ahead in it’s development. Am really inspired by that.
And I’d like to make corrections to the name of the village up there; it’s ‘Nyakasimbi’ instead of Nyakasumbi.
More so I like to post to you current progress of the work here as I wait for a response to come from the university MDP team. And is that the people with technology skills you need are coming from the US ? Or else I’d love to partner with you in this field to pass on what I already know but as well to learn from other people.
So is there an email I can upload attachments or even photos taken?
Thank you
Jeff Francis
Hallow ETI
Thank you for getting back to me. It’s thrilling to learn that you people there are having sleepless nights to have karagwe make steps ahead in it’s development. Am really inspired by that.
And I’d like to make corrections to the name of the village up there; it’s ‘Nyakasimbi’ instead of Nyakasumbi.
More so I like to post to you current progress of the work here as I wait for a response to come from the university MDP team. And is that the people with technology skills you need are coming from the US ? Or else I’d love to partner with you in this field to pass on what I already know but as well to learn from other people.
So is there an email I can upload attachments or even photos taken?
Thank you
Jeff Francis