Who we are
Bernard Kiwia: Co-Founder & Director of Technology
Bernard Kiwia is a Tanzanian inventor who was inspired by MIT’s D-Lab to launch an innovation center in Arusha, Tanzania. Formerly an electrician and bicycle mechanics instructor by profession, Bernard has spent his last six years creating intermediate technologies for village communities and teaching technology workshops to students and villagers.
In 2011, he founded AISE to provide a space for other community members to learn, develop, and create local innovation, and AISE joined forces with Twende in 2015. Bernard has attended and organized the International Development Design Summit numerous times and has also worked with MIT’s D-Lab as a designer-in-residence. Most recently, he worked at Global Cycle Solutions in Arusha as Technology Manager where his bicycle-powered phone charger and motorcycle-powered phone charger were brought to market. Bernard teaches our courses, offers technical advising to local innovators, and creates life-improving technologies to inspire.
In 2011, he founded AISE to provide a space for other community members to learn, develop, and create local innovation, and AISE joined forces with Twende in 2015. Bernard has attended and organized the International Development Design Summit numerous times and has also worked with MIT’s D-Lab as a designer-in-residence. Most recently, he worked at Global Cycle Solutions in Arusha as Technology Manager where his bicycle-powered phone charger and motorcycle-powered phone charger were brought to market. Bernard teaches our courses, offers technical advising to local innovators, and creates life-improving technologies to inspire.
