![]() Creative Capacity Building (CCB) is a model of teaching based on sparking innovation in participants. This approach was developed by International Development Innovation Network (IDIN) and MIT D-Lab. Twende-AISE has adopted it to help students and other community members to uncover challenges and build technologies to improve their lives as well as the lives of others. This is a new venture for young people, especially in primary and secondary schools. The School of St. Jude is one institution where both teachers as well as students have taken strong interest in Creative Capacity Building, beginning with 6 students (3 male and 3 female) taking part in CCB training. The students were really excited and took the training very seriously with the support of their institution including their mentoring teacher: Sister Janet. In Creative Capacity Building the students go through the design cycle which help them identify their challenges, gather information, think of ideas, experiment, choose the best idea, work out the details, build it, test it, and finally, get feedback to iterate on their solutions and repeat the cycle. They also get chance to see the existing technologies that other have already developed, and before they start working on their own challenges, they get the chance to build one of the existing technologies. The most exciting part is seeing students taking every class very seriously as reflected in the above photo. And they always try to reflect the challenges that are facing them either in the school or at home. This was very visible when they made their first maize sheller prototype. This is one of the student’s reactions after building the prototype: "I learned how to solve different problems that are facing the society using simple means as well as readily locally available materials to make something worthy.” These “young innovators” affirmed that CCB training is worthy not only to them, but to all young people so that all can find solutions to the challenges that are constantly facing the society in which they live. Recently, the group grew from six to eleven. This is because the first group of students went with positive experience of the whole meaning of Creative Capacity Building, influencing others to be more interested in CCB training. Though we have talked a lot about School of St. Jude's participation in Creative Capacity Building, they are just one among many schools Twende-AISE has reached with CCB training. In the past year, we have managed to reach 201 number of students with Creative Capacity Building. With both groups from St. Jude we have realized that these students are very interested in build solutions for their problems. They try for community-based challenges so that their solution can bring difference to entire society. The number of young innovators from St. Jude and elsewhere will definitely keep growing, and eventually we will have a good number of young innovators who will be using our space to build Tanzanian solutions to day-to-day challenges in life. The first St. Jude group is now working on another challenge that aims at environmental conservation. That is, they are making a device to mix waste paper with the intent of designing a press to make charcoal. The main reasons behind this project is:
Five CCB students participated in Science Fair Day this year. The day turned out too great because both projects they developed here received awards. The hand-crank maize sheller got the second overall award for its community-oriented impact that will address the problem that many farmers at the local level are facing. The students were very happy and due to their achievement in the two projects, and many more students showed interest in CCB. We are very excited to continue working with St. Jude and hope to see such success at other organizations!
7 Comments
Cesar Huamanchumo
30/4/2015 01:54:27 pm
Need to know how should get this entire program for teaching some Peruvian students to solve social problems. Thanks.
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19/5/2015 04:01:02 pm
it is really amazing getting to know what is happening arround, i have learnt alot from visiting this blog..... it is just one step towards developing my scientific and innovative skills....i hope that one day in the near future ,each one of us can make a positive contribution to the society and our planet at large..."WE CAN DO ANYTHING IF AND ONLY IF WE BELIEVE IN OURSELVES...."
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27/5/2015 04:30:18 pm
Hi Eddy! 27/5/2015 04:27:56 pm
Hi Cesar! Apologies about the delay in response. Would love to chat more over email about what you're looking to do. Please reach out to us at aisetanzania@gmail.com when you get a chance.
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Dean White
29/8/2017 09:27:23 pm
I was in Arusha all last summer in 2016 and came by to visit, and need a bit of help. I want to size up a solar pv system for a sustainable farm there in Ngaramntoni. Can you help with the technical specs on what would be an appropriate system for powering 1-2 computers or some laptops and a reliable internet connection? Need assessment on the best internet provider. It is very important for the project to have the following #1 Reliable Internet Access #2 Computer(s)/Laptops (with possibly 1 basic laser printer HP worked good for me when living in Arusha and they had some good workhorses 1200 series) #3 Solar PV System for the roof of the main home. www.whitesdesign.com
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