Songambele community youths are no longer enganging in non productive activities!!!

Aiming at improving agriculturalists' live-hoods especially in arid land areas, Songambele Maarifa Centre situated in Kongwa district, Dodoma Tanzania provides advices to agriculturalists through community radio, agricultural information accesss though the internet, advice from  extension officers and reading different books/brochures equipped in the Maarifa centre library.

Here are youths spending the evening hours in Songambele Maarifa Center library  reading books/brochures. Songambele community youths used to spend evening hours engaging in non productive activities that tempt  them to engage in worse habits. Mr,  Noel says that he has  gained knowledge about climate change and the use of Biogas instead of using firewood and charcoal to cook from the brochure he read.

Mr. Noel (with black t-shirt) and other youths in  Maarifa centre library concentrating on the books / brochures.

Youths say that sometimes they found themselves engaging in immoral activities because of missing.  what to keep them busy.Such centers are very important to keep youths busy and minimize immoral habits. But also it gives them an opportunity to gain knowledge to improve their life and act positively in the society they are living. 

Internet connectivity was possible at Mkoka

Songambele Maarifa centre faced the challenge lacking internet connectivity since the center started in 2012. On 30th April 2014, the field officer accompanied by some ICT graduates decided to try internet connectivity at nearby village called Mkoka. This wad done in Mkoka primary school where  there is electricity supply. The modems were used to connect to the computers and internet access  was possible though still the access speed was low. Trainees were able to use the computers and access some information from the the internet.

This was the first time for Mr. Makono and Mr. Mamoga ( Ward Education Cordinators), Mr. Kyaruzi (Secondary school teacher), Mr. Zephania Magwira(a farmer and bussiness man), Mr. Mwangalimi (primary school teacher) and Miss Habiba (a form four leaver) to use the computer and access information via internet.They were very happy.

Despite accessing information, every one understood to open a new e-mail account, read already sent e-mails, send e-mails and e-mail with the attached document .

From complete computer illiterate to computer literate!!!!

Mr. Kyaruzi is secondary school teacher teaching mathematics at Songambele Kiliman Secondary Secondary school. Mr. kyaruzi has got his elder brother who is working in head of state offices in Dar es Salaam. His elder brother has children who studies in international school with an ability of using the computer. Those kids were laughing at Mr. kyaruzi on his inability of even turning on and off the computer while he used to go to his brother for visitation. Such condition made Mr. Kyaruzi shameful and uncomfortable to his brothers’ resident

Mr. Kyaruzi using the computer in Songambele Maarifa centre. 

Mr. Kyaruzi intended from his heart to acquire the computer knowledge but still the problem was the place to acquire such education depending on working environment. After being aware of Songambele maarifa centre, Mr. Kyaruzi was registered and now is happy from the knowledge he acquired. He accomplished five modules i.e introduction to computer, MS word, excel, powerpoint and Internet and e-mails. He uses excel to arrange students’ results.

He was able to get college education after gaining knowledge from the Maarifa centre!!!

A young gentleman (Frank Willson Chimwaga) from Songambele community realized that his best performance in college studies at CBE was a result of the knowledge he acquired from Songambele maarifa centre.

Frank who was a form four leaver, is now taking the certificate in Business administration. Among the courses in his first semester was introduction to computer which he scored B⁺. Frank realized that his high theoretical and practical performance in computer studies was because of the studies he got from Songambele maarifa centre.  From Songambele maarifa centre, Frank was eager to continue with studies at college level.

Frank chimwaga at Songambele Maarifa centre when he came to give his thanks, photo by Sadock

Because of the studies he acquired from the centre, Frank realized the simplicity of studies at the Colledge of Bussines Education situated in Dodoma town.

From listening to community radio , Mr. Pearson expects to harvest more this season

Mr. Pearson is a member in community group number one. His group is used to listen the period called Seasons are changing “Nyakati Zinabadilika) held in  Dodoma FM (98.4 MHZ) radio during the morning. From this period, Mr. Pearson learns the relationship between today’s seasons and farming activities to harvest more.

Mr. Pearson in his modern maize farm after gaining knowledge from the community radio. Photo by Sadock Peter

He has only five planted acres in modern way with expectations of harvesting more than sixty bags of maize.Dramatic session change that cause soil infertility has led to small harvest in most of agriculturalists who do not farm in modern way, but Mr. Pearson has escaped this situation

 

Mr. Makono will no longer migrate to town for computer studies

Mr. Mamoga is Ward Education Director (WED) Songambele ward and Mr. Makono is a Ward Education Director (WED) in Makawa ward. Both are attending computer studies in Songambele Maarifa Centre. As the Directors, they used to feel shame while attending WEDs’ meetings within and outside Kongwa district when they present their work manually. 

Mr. Makono (with a tee-shirt) and Mr. Mamoga (with a draft shirt) during the session at the centre. Photo by Sadock Peter

Mr. Makono with a wife and seven children had a plan to run off his family from village and rent a house in town with the purpose of acquiring computer knowledge during his annual leave. Now Mr. Makono is happy because he is able to attend the computer periods at Songambele Maarifa centre and fulfill his family duties.

For complete understanding and frequent exercise, Mr. Makono decided to buy his own laptop as seen on the photo above.