Ever since I arrived back in the States in August, I’ve been scheming ways to once again return to the region I’ve become so fond of! Dr. Lee, as amazing as he is already, gave me a name of a non-profit that he thought I’d really like- Twende. When I returned to the U.S., I looked it up online and sent Twende an e-mail saying I was really interested in what their initiatives were, and wanted to see if there’d be room for me to help in any way. After a series of emails with the founder, Jim Elsworth, I am now set on returning to Tanzania from the beginning of June until the middle of August. It is an interesting time with Twende as Jim is working to gain sustainability for his NGO, a challenge faced by all non-profits. In an agreement with another organization, Global Cycle Solutions (GCS), they are working together to make a new workshop for entrepreneurial design. GCS was founded by an MIT graduate, Jodie Wu, and they focus to make bike accessories that allow individuals to gain work as contractors. Their most successful products so far include a corn sheller as well as a bike operated cell phone charger.
So what will I be doing?
Working with mechanical engineers, I will be learning all about how they started their non-profits, the biggest challenges they face, and see where the skills I’ve acquired so far will fit in to both organizations. I am already set to live with Jodie for my stay, so I have become truly excited for the summer! I hope to gain a better understanding of the process of turning a great idea into an actual product and I think the most interesting part will be working with the locals and adjusting to a setting where things can’t necessarily be ordered easily or afforded.
Another exciting factor will be returning and seeing many of the people I met this past summer with EWH. I am very excited to be visiting my host family and am hoping we can negotiate some Swahili lessons so I can really practice. My host sister is in college in Dar es Salaam now so I think it would be really fantastic to visit her university. Along with my family, I am also very eager to return to Cradle of Love, the baby orphanage I was able to volunteer at a few times while living in Arusha. The home has over 30 babies now all under the age of 4. The goal of the orphanage is to take care of the babies that are delivered to them either until their family can once again take care of them or give them a caring environment and find another home once they get older. I am hoping that if I can fundraise enough, I'll be able to donate to the orphanage as well!
So what will I be doing?
Working with mechanical engineers, I will be learning all about how they started their non-profits, the biggest challenges they face, and see where the skills I’ve acquired so far will fit in to both organizations. I am already set to live with Jodie for my stay, so I have become truly excited for the summer! I hope to gain a better understanding of the process of turning a great idea into an actual product and I think the most interesting part will be working with the locals and adjusting to a setting where things can’t necessarily be ordered easily or afforded.
Another exciting factor will be returning and seeing many of the people I met this past summer with EWH. I am very excited to be visiting my host family and am hoping we can negotiate some Swahili lessons so I can really practice. My host sister is in college in Dar es Salaam now so I think it would be really fantastic to visit her university. Along with my family, I am also very eager to return to Cradle of Love, the baby orphanage I was able to volunteer at a few times while living in Arusha. The home has over 30 babies now all under the age of 4. The goal of the orphanage is to take care of the babies that are delivered to them either until their family can once again take care of them or give them a caring environment and find another home once they get older. I am hoping that if I can fundraise enough, I'll be able to donate to the orphanage as well!
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