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UNESCO kicks off transformative projects to foster community-based development in Tanzania
On 17th October 2024, the UNESCO Dar es Salaam Office successfully hosted the kick-off meeting for the selected applicants of the UNESCO-Alwaleed Philanthropies project grants. Held both in-person and online, this meeting marked the formal launch of the selected projects, aimed at supporting community-based development by enhancing the role of culture and arts through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Tanzania. Chosen through a rigorous selection process from a pool of 38 applications, these projects will each receive up to $10,000 in financial support from UNESCO and Alwaleed Philanthropies. The initiatives are poised to make a lasting impact by offering new learning pathways, fostering creative skills, preserving cultural heritage, and empowering communities across the country.
We have embarked on this endeavour not only to enhance skills but also to build sustainable livelihoods through culture-based education, arts, and vocational training
The meeting featured key stakeholders, including representatives from UNESCO, selected grantees, youth and the Government of Tanzania. It provided an opportunity for the selected project grantees to present their plans, share their implementation strategies, and discuss expected outcomes with stakeholders. The grantees, along with government representatives, engaged in open discussions on collaboration opportunities and shared project goals.
We are ready to collaborate with the five selected organizations, as they all have a role to work with VETA. We are committed to ensuring that skills are acquired, which will serve as a catalyst for increasing youth incomes and contributing to the nation's economy. We promise our full cooperation
The selected projects span a wide range of activities, from advancing early literacy and integrating digital tools into cultural education to preserving Tanzania's intangible cultural heritage through community radio. Others focus on vocational training in the arts and creative writing, empowering youth and vulnerable groups to blend traditional knowledge with contemporary practices. By doing so, these initiatives are not just offering new learning environments but also creating new pathways for economic and social development.
Over the next months, the selected projects will create spaces for learning and creativity, nurturing talent and fostering a deep connection to Tanzania鈥檚 cultural roots while contributing to professionalization in the field of culture. By promoting collaborative processes at both local and national levels, the initiatives aim to uplift youth, women, and vulnerable groups, ensuring that Tanzania鈥檚 rich culture continues to inspire and thrive in a contemporary context.
ADEA (Center for African Development through Economics and the Arts) will be promoting arts and culture by training youth and vulnerable groups in vocational skills such as sculpture and painting in the Mtwara Region.
Mwanyanya Green Society aims to enhance early literacy pedagogies, integrate digital literacy skills and provide specialized teacher training and professional development to equip teachers with essential computer literacy and create a more conducive learning environment in Unguja Island, Zanzibar.
SOMA (Readership for Learning and Development) is aiming to empower young women and youth by fostering creative writing and mixed media skills, blending indigenous knowledge with contemporary storytelling in Dar es Salaam.
TAMCODE (Tanzania Media for Community Development) will promote intangible cultural heritage through community radio stations and platforms in the Katavi and Rukwa Regions.
YAPO (Youth Alliance for Progress Organization) aims to bridge the gap by training youth with culturally employability skills in arts and technology-enabled learning in the Dar es Salaam and Dodoma Regions.
The UNESCO-Alwaleed Philanthropies Programme was launched to support community-based development by enhancing the role of culture and arts through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This project is part of a broader effort to promote the economic and social value of cultural heritage and institutions in Tanzania.
We are confident that the selected projects will successfully be implemented for the benefits of the community. The Ministry is ready to work with UNESCO in coordinating the implementation of these projects
To learn more about each of these innovative projects and their progress, be sure to follow the UNESCO Dar es Salaam office鈥檚 website and social media channels. Updates, stories, and detailed insights will be shared in the coming months, offering a closer look at how these initiatives are making a difference in Tanzanian communities. Their journeys will showcase the synergies of culture and education in building a brighter, more inclusive future. Stay tuned for more information.
For more information:
Fostering community-based development through culture-related TVET and employment
UNESCO and Alwaleed Philanthropies join forces for sustainable development | UNESCO
