The founder of Global Outreach Tanzania celebrates his birthday

Serious Events or Play – GOT gets it done

by with No Comment Iringa

Teamwork and versatility are two of the key characteristics we seek with Global Outreach Tanzania (GOT) staff members. This newsletter will demonstrate our success in that objective. I think the pictures say it all

 

                                             An Important Visitor

Last year, GOT was one of a handful of NGO’s chosen to provide programs for the government’s Skills Development Fund program. This past week, the Tanzania Deputy Permanent Secretary of Education, Science, and Technology traveled to our office to review the project and visit one of the six schools where we implemented computer literacy programs and installed the Windows to Knowledge (W2K) platform.
Professor James Mdoe complimented GOT on their work; but, more importantly, he applauded our vision of providing a model to the country, and our early commitment to technology, compulsorary in the 21st century. He acknowledged how insightful our early focus on off-line educational materials is proving to be, as Tanzania continues to struggle for a satisfactory broadband capabiliity across the country, particularly in the less populated areas. He voiced his agreement with our strategy of aiming for quality over quantity, and he extended an invitation to approach him for how the government can help quality organizations be more effective and efficient in assisting the government meet the education demands in a technology-driven world.

He had much fun with the students at Kihesa Secondary School, quizzing them on their knowledge, hearing how excited they were with W2K, and telling them that computer literacy and capability is mandatory for any success they hope to have in the future.

For GOT staff, it was a wonderful day to have such an influential person acknowledge how accurate our vision and focus on reality has been in leadership programs. 

Left to right, top to bottom:
1, Grayson Msigala presents an overview of GOT’s project activities.
2, Kihesa students assemble to welcome the guests.
3. Computer Literacy teacher presents the program to the VIP’s.
4. Deputy PS Mdoe gets an up-close demonstation

                                              Happy 80th Birthday Babu Stan
                                              Happy 79th (again) Bibi Betty  

Turning 80 in Manasota is not a very big deal – octogenarians make up a major component of the community. NOT the case in Tanzania. So when the GOT staff learned that founder Stan Muessle was hitting that magic number, they pulled out all the stops for a grand (belated) party. Wife Betty, top fundraiser for GOT, was included in anticipation of the beginning of annual tribute to her 79th birthday.

I dare say the staff put as much (if not more) into this day as they did with Professor Mdoe’s visit. As you will see from the collage below, it takes more than business skills to secure a position in a premier Tanzanian organization. And if you have any questions about the family atmosphere that Executive Director Maryline has forged, check out the happiness all around. 

What a wonderful party!

(Some may not know that Babu is the Kiswahili word for Grandfather. My ‘granddaughter’ Maryline began the practice of using this to avoid pronouncing Muessle, and it caught on – big time. They try to tell me it’s a honor to be know by a single name – like JLo or Arod – but i’m not so sure in this case.)

Left to right, top to bottom:
1. Versatile staff moves from office to kitchen with ease.
2. Everyone is expected  to participate – and that neans EVERYone.
3. Goat from scratch is quite a different experience.
4. Now this is more along my capability.
5. I thought mommy was an accountant???
6. We bless the food.
7. The fruit of their labors. 
8. Grand finale 

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Global Outreach Intern’s Program

by Iringa

Tanzania’s 11% unemployment rate can be very misleading in reflecting the challenges facing today’s university graduates. The marketplace for skilled employees is limited, jobs are concentrated in a few population centers, and the mostly theoretical education system leaves graduates ill-prepared to meet the needs of prospective customers. Even when these young people want to pursue entrepreneurial activities, their lack of practical know-how poses a major impediment.
 
For years, Global Outreach Tanzania (GOT) has offered internships to local university IT students, to give them hands-on experience and strengthen their resumes for employment. But in 2014 when GOT founder Stan Muessle and wife Betty spent several months in Iringa, they developed a formal program that included opportunities for students in both business and education as well. It accepted students needing to fulfill their university requirement and graduates looking to grow their knowledge and skills.
 
 
 
               School Programs Manager James leads a training session. 
 
This is not your typical Tanzanian internship. While universities have looked to these programs for practical experience for years, most sponsoring organizations stick interns in back rooms and let them fend for themselves with little direction and trivial (if any) tasks. GOT, however, seeks to truly mentor, shape and guide them in numerous areas to prepare them for their success.
 
Students discover the differences quickly. As much as the organization welcomes individuals for internship, they must go through a formal interview before starting, something that most of them do not expect. We want them to think of themselves not as interns, but as employees. They are assigned to team leaders, attend staff meetings, and are expected to meet organizational reporting and performance requirements. GOT engages the individuals in a wide range of activities that build them personally and professionally; they learn teamwork, networking, presentations, business ethics, and other interpersonal skills. Most internships last about two months, but they may be extended if mutually desired by intern and organization.
 
                   Technicians get plenty of practical experience.
 
GOT’s intern program has been saluted by not only local universities but has been the subject of a feature article in the country’s largest newspaper. Since formalization in 2014, over 50 interns have come through the program. Not surprisingly, every current GOT employee came from the ranks of our interns, including Executive Director Maryline Mamuya, who was in that initial group. Numerous others credit their eventual employment to skills acquired through our program.
 
Besides helping address a significant need in the country, the intern program yields key benefits for GOT. While far from free, due to our own employee’s increased responsibilities, we get real contributions from non-salaried workers. Further, our own employees gain skills in leadership, management, and planning in their roles as advisors and directors to the interns. It’s a WIN-WIN-WIN program – for the students, for GOT, and for Tanzania.
 

 
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Developing Leaders-Making an Impact

by Iringa

Developing Leaders – Making an Impact

Sometimes it’s the little things that mean the most!


She wanted to build an on-line site for students to get relevant material to prepare for national examinations. It would ease the lack of books, present information in an easy to follow format aligned with their classes and subjects, and substitute for missing teachers during examination preparation. Virtually everyone who she had approached with her idea pointed out why it wouldn’t work, and she was on the verge of giving up.
While she was hoping to solicit funds, which I was not in position to provide, what she really needed was encouragement. That was easy. It was a wonderful idea; and though it might take time to battle cultural challenges, if she had the strength to see it through, students would eventually benefit from her vision. Years later she would confess to me that my sincere encouragement of that day was what kept her going.


Her website, Shule Direct, not only became successful, but today it is the leading on-line learning site in Tanzania. It is undoubtedly the most-used content (in an off-line replication) on Global Outreach Tanzania’s (GOT) Windows to Knowledge (W2K) system. And Faraja, who has received numerous recognitions in Africa, was today named by the World Economic Forum (WEF) among 115 influential people under the age of 40 who have made a difference in society.

While I love to tell you about the growing numbers of students we are helping prepare for life in the 21st century, I have continued to believe that the most significant role of Global Outreach in Tanzania is to help grow leaders. Encouragement, mentoring, role modelling – these are equally, if not more, important than computer literacy in changing the opportunities for Tanzanian children. And they are the ones who will make a better life for their fellows.


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Wahoo for WAHI at Global Outreach

by Iringa
WAHI PROGRAM SIGNALS NEW HORIZONS FOR GLOBAL OUTREACH


WAHI means “be on time” in Swahili. But at Global Outreach Tanzania (GOT) it now means We Are the Hope of Iringa. But the Swahili is applicable to both the timeliness expected from the participating students to the timeliness of the initiative itself.

The program was envisioned byGOT Executive Director Maryline Mamuya, who has wanted to find a way to give students learning and personal skills that they do not get in school. This has been the driving force behind her passion in leading GOT since her US experience.

But the true architect of the program is new GOT employee Adventina Emmanuel. She was given the project with an open opportunity to build it in her own vision. And build it she did.


The project was conducted as an after-school activity and was hosted in the Kichangani Computer lab every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.  Two days were devoted to primary school students and two days to middle school students, during the last two hours each day.

The pilot was begun in October 2018 with 28 students from two schools meeting once a week.  Within a few weeks, the numbers started increasing because interns encouraged students to bring their friends along.  To date, over 200 students have participated in WAHI, and the numbers just keep climbing. The program is now split into multiple areas and disciplines each session, with GOT interns offloading Adventina in leading the sessions.

According to Adventina, she wants all her kids to experience:
 
A Reading Habit—Creative Writing—Computer Learning—Visual Learning—Creativity—Problem Solving—Public Speaking—and feeling good about themselves.
 
She does this through her own creativity, expertise in technology, and unbounded enthusiasm. It’s a two-way love affair between her and the kids. All that plus a green-light from Maryline to change kids’ lives.  You can see why I love coming to Iringa.




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