Twende Social Innovation Centre empowers Tanzanians to design and build their own technologies to solve community challenges
In Tanzania, over 800,000 young people enter the job market each year, yet few have the tools or pathways to turn their ideas into income. Communities face pressing challenges but imported solutions rarely fit local realities.
Twende bridges this gap. Equipping youth and community innovators with the skills and resources to design homegrown technologies. By investing in Twende, you invest in solutions that create jobs, solve urgent needs, and build a more resilient, self-reliant Tanzania.
In Tanzania, over 800,000 young people enter the job market each year, yet few have the tools or pathways to turn their ideas into income. Communities face pressing challenges but imported solutions rarely fit local realities.
Twende bridges this gap. Equipping youth and community innovators with the skills and resources to design homegrown technologies. By investing in Twende, you invest in solutions that create jobs, solve urgent needs, and build a more resilient, self-reliant Tanzania.
At the same time, communities continue to struggle with daily challenges like poor infrastructure, unreliable services, and food insecurity. Most solutions are imported, impractical, and not sustainable because they exclude local knowledge and ownership.
This creates a growing innovation gap. Young people and communities who best understand the problems are rarely equipped with the tools, skills, and support to solve them.
By failing to invest in this generation of problem-solvers, we miss the chance to tackle urgent challenges, create jobs, and build a stronger, more inclusive, self reliant and resilient economy from the ground up.
At Twende Social Innovation Center, we believe in the power of homegrown solutions. We’re fostering a new generation of Tanzanian innovators by providing the essential skills, resources, and support needed to transform ideas into impact.
Through hands-on training, mentorship, and workshops, participants develop practical skills in design thinking, technology and fabrication, entrepreneurship, and leadership
Our makerspaces in Arusha and Kilimanjaro provide access to tools, technology, expert support, and a collaborative community where ideas can be designed, tested, and built.
We support innovators beyond the prototype stage, providing mentorship and business development support to help ideas grow into sustainable ventures.
Cultivating curiosity and knowledge acquisition
Transforming learning into hands-on creation and experimentation
Fostering creativity to solve real-world problems
Empowering action and initiative to bring innovations to market
Cultivating curiosity and knowledge acquisition
Fostering creativity to solve real-world problems
Transforming learning into hands-on creation and experimentation
Empowering action and initiative to bring innovations to market
We pride ourselves on our impact-centered approach, setting us apart as catalysts for meaningful change. Each initiative is meticulously crafted to make a profound difference.
Engaging the next generation of leaders in hands-on STEM activities, building confidence and practical skills with locally sourced materials.
Empowering community members to develop innovative solutions to local challenges, fostering creativity and practical problem-solving skills.
Guiding aspiring entrepreneurs to transform ideas into viable businesses, offering mentorship, resources, and real-world business training.
Explore exemplary projects led by alumni Twende has supported, each making a significant impact in their communities through innovative solutions and dedicated entrepreneurship.
Greenventure Globals is an innovative initiative transforming recycled plastic into premium building materials and bespoke furniture. This project not only combats waste but also promotes local communities.
Inspired by farmers’ struggles with excess avocados, Jesse realized he could transform this waste into profitable oil. He has since established cooperatives that uses his machines to sell premium avocado oil.
Inspired by farmers’ struggles with excess avocados, Jesse realized he could transform this waste into profitable oil. He has since established cooperatives that uses his machines to sell premium avocado oil.
The Kyaro Multipurpose Wheelchair is revolutionizing care for children with disabilities like cerebral palsy in developing countries. Its rugged, all-terrain design ensures durability on unpaved roads.
Designed to reduce the time and labour required for peanut harvesting, this innovation helps small-scale farmers process crops more efficiently. An affordable leasing model makes the technology accessible to those who need it most.
Designed to reduce the time and labour required for peanut harvesting, this innovation helps small-scale farmers process crops more efficiently. An affordable leasing model makes the technology accessible to those who need it most.
Our ultimate goal is to empower the next generation of Tanzanian innovators, unleashing a ripple effect through society for generations to come. We are proud to present members of the Twende family who are truly transforming their communities and the world at large.
We are grateful to our partners whose support makes this work possible. Together, we are expanding access to innovation, creating opportunities, and empowering communities across Tanzania to develop solutions to the challenges they face.
