Smart Talk

COSAD Gives Its Highest Award to a 11-Year Hero Saira Yusuf From California

2010-02-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

The Global Partnership Award (GPA) is the COSAD’s highest recognition presented annually. The award is triggered by two facts: It serves as a symbol of our greater appreciation of the solidarity in the fight against poverty and our journey together to create a more loving and a just world whereby, because of our creative collaboration the impact we have made will last for many generations to come. Secondly, it is awarded as a sign of gratitude to organizations, companies, individuals and/or families for their continued generosity and tireless monetary support to our community development initiatives in Tanzania.

And the 2010 Award goes to….

Saira Yusuf, Founder of Rafiki Education Scholarship, (RES), San Francisco, California.

Recognition Description: Saira was one of the members of the GCN (Global Citizen Network) volunteer team who came to Bukoba in August 2009 for a two week volunteer program. She was there with her parents Zia and Paru, as well as her younger sister Sanam (age 8). Because of her active participation in the conversation between COSAD local leaders and GCN she often asked many tough questions but the biggest one was one for which she decided to come up with a solution for. She wanted to know what happens when a kid passes their exams, is smart enough to continue school but the parents don’t have the money. She had also heard that young people were leaving Kangabusharo because of lack of opportunity and wanted to know who will help the people then. Answer: If young people receive education and commit to come back eventually Kangabusharo would be better off. Thus was born Saira’s Rafiki Education Scholarship!

Today, Saira’s idea is a practical reality. Three orphans are attending boarding school with full scholarship from Saira who organized car wash, baking cookies from her fellow children to ensure that their fellow young children in Bukoba have an opportunity to go to school.

COSAD believes sustainable development requires enlightened and informed citizens. That is why in every community we partner with we start with Community Resource and Learning Centers which is designed to promote the culture of reading and provide space for learning and exchange of ideas.

I personally believe nothing ensures sustainability like education.

Smart Baitani | COSAD Executive Director | smart@cosad.org | 612 227 0065

COSAD 2nd Annual Dinner for Tanzania's Community Development Efforts. February 2010

2010-02-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Dear friends of COSAD!

It is down to seven day only! I am pleased to bring you some very specific details of the COSAD 2010‘Night of Inspiration' Programs: It is another amazing night for COSAD! We are all overwhelmingly excited for the coming Friday February 26 2010 (Starting at 6pm) at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth, Minnesota

It is all set for you! Please see More at www.cosad.org

Once again, COSAD is bringing you an inspiring event with great program all brought to you in one evening! Your $25 will not only get you a delicious meal, but a night you will remember -- one filled with global entertainment, inspirational speakers, a silent auction with items ranging from Tanzanian coffee, a rare delicious blend produced from coffee beans grown in the slopes of the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro and along the shores of the largest Lake in Africa, Victoria, to authentic African carvings, drums, clothes and artifacts to time-share exotic vacations and more!

Above all, come and hear what COSAD has done in the past year because of our partnership with you!

Very special thanks for our main sponsors this year, our dear Friend Sue Johnson & Friends of Bukoba’s Bruce Lane Johnson Library and Community Resource Center and Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth, Minnesota.

If you cannot make it, we will appreciate your support to COSAD. Please donate online at: www.cosad.org

I look forward to meeting you!

Smart Baitani, Executive Director

Smart@cosad.org | 612 227 0065

COSAD Mission:

To build partnerships that create community development through the support of projects involving micro-enterprise, health, education and culture.

COSAD Vision:

Empowering Tanzanians to get out of poverty, one community at a time.

COSAD Supporter Wins USAID’s African Diaspora Marketplace Competition!

2010-02-13T12:34:00.000-08:00

Peter Drucker, one of the greatest management gurus of this century, summarizes so succinctly what UZA-MAZAO is all about: “Because its purpose is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two-and only these two-basic functions: marketing and innovation…all the rest are cost”.

Uza-Mazao^TM which is a Swahili word for “sell your produce”, is quickly becoming Africa's biggest, best-deal, 24/7 market in a mobile phone. It creates a marketplace via Short Message System – SMS text messaging to bring unprecedented levels of efficiency to buyers and sellers of crops, farm produce, livestock and livestock products.

Dr. Raymond Rugemalira’s UZA-MAZAO (http://www.uzamazao.blogspot.com) is a revolutionary idea that covers the two basic function of any business endeavor: Market and innovation. The innovation aspect is equally unprecedented as the marketing aspect for the rural farmers. Despite the fact that traditional communication infrastructures are nearly non-existent, there is a ray of hope through the resurgence of the use of cell-phones. COSAD (Community Solutions for Africa’s Development) (www.cosad.org), last year found that there is, at least, one cell-phone in every three households in the communities of Izigo, and Kangabusharo in rural Bukoba, Tanzania, where we are currently supporting farmers and women through our popular program: One Women One Goat. One Woman, One Goat, OWOG is a COSAD project under its core program named TACE (Tanzania Community Enterprise) initiative which was designed to create economic opportunities in rural Tanzania using market-based, micro business approaches to promote income-generating community projects.

UZA-MAZAO will solve the biggest puzzle in enterprise development in the rural areas that continues to be the challenge: Market. Currently local farmers in rural areas in Africa face daunting challenges beyond production of their crops. Even existing social enterprise and micro-lending programs have not done a good job in creating awareness on the role of the market and have not succeeded to close the huge gap between local producers and market access which is largely due to the lack of trade infrastructure and trading networks. Market is king. UZA-MAZAO is guaranteed to be the preferred partner of everybody engaged in the rural micro enterprise development. COSAD wants to take a faster track. The meeting is scheduled in early March in 2010 in Silicon Valley, California with the founder Dr Rugemalira and COSAD Executive Director to discuss sole representation in Tanzania!

COSAD being an organization that works with farmers and micro entrepreneurs in the Northwestern part of Tanzania will greatly provide an avenue for farmers ranging from goat owners selling their milk, organic farmers, to micro enterprise groups to have their market information on their figure tip. In addition, the most recently forged relationship between COSAD and the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (www.tccia.com), the largest trade industry in the country puts COSAD on the front seat on the matters related to linking Tanzania’s private enterprises with local, regional and international market.

P.S. The African Diaspora Marketplace Competition was organized by USAID and Western Union. Out of 733 entrants 58 were chosen as finalists and out of these only 14 were chosen as winners and were awarded grants. Uza-Mazao^TM was among the 14 winners.

By Smart P. Baitani, Executive Director, COSAD Inc (www.cosad.org)

COSAD Mission:

To build partnerships that create community development through the support of projects involving micro-enterprise, health, education and culture.

COSAD Vision:

Empowering Tanzanians to get out of poverty, one community at a time.

COSAD Connects Bukoba Children with Calfornia Sponsors!

2009-12-17T21:21:00.000-08:00

SAIRA YUSUF, A TEN YEAR VOLUNTEER FROM CALIFORNIA TO PROVIDE THREE FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO KANGABUSHARO CHILDREN

STATEMENT OF APPRECIATION AND PURPOSE FROM COSAD

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SMART P. BAITANI

I believe there are several ways of developing and maintaining sustainable partnerships, both locally and internationally. The story of a young girl, Saira Yusuf---only 10 years old -- who volunteered in Bukoba through a GCN (Global Citizens Network) and COSAD partnership project in August 2009 is an example of one of those partnerships.

For a number of years, COSAD has been using its local partnerships as a launch pad for international partnerships. International volunteers, in partnership with a COSAD community, are provided with a unique opportunity to directly immerse themselves into local communities by sharing and experiencing the real challenges they face. They participate side by side with the community on physical infrastructure projects such as renovating community rooms and building goat pens while at the same time learning firsthand about local life and culture.

Many times, however, volunteers in Bukoba take the relationship to a whole new dimension by making sure that their involvement and support continues beyond the time they spent in the community. Saira Yusuf is one such volunteer.

Saira was one of the members of the GCN volunteer team who came to Bukoba in August 2009 for a two week volunteer program. She was there with her parents Zia and Paru, as well as her younger sister Sanam (age 8). She had been overhearing, and many times actively participating in, conversations we often had about development, the specific project the team was working on, the education process in Tanzania, etc.

Her participation in these conversations allowed her to have a good overview of what the team was trying to accomplish during their stay including why the community center was needed. She asked many tough questions but the biggest one was one for which she decided to come up with a solution for. She wanted to know what happens when a kid passes their exams, is smart enough to continue school but the parents don’t have the money. She had also heard that young people were leaving Kangabusharo because of lack of opportunity and wanted to know who will help the people then.

I replied: “Saira…Money! Money! I need money to send these smart kids to school so they can come back and help their community.”

When she found out how much it costs for a child to go to secondary school for one year ($150), her initial response was, “but I have that much from my allowance. Can I give it to them?” She had a quick discussion with her parents on giving the money, how to help out as well what would happen the following year, etc. and came back to ask me if she could visit the Standard Seven (grade 7) classroom. While walking there, she asked me: “How do I choose the person to sponsor?”

I was quite excited and filled with joy. I said, “Let’s talk more about it with the head teacher before we go the classroom.” In the course of the resulting conversations with the teachers, her parents and me, her initial reaction to help one child for one year evolved into creating a sustained support mechanism that would ensure that the child would be able to continue their education through to secondary school. Before we had even finalized anything, the news had spread throughout the entire village!

She has chosen to sponsor three children who will be selected on merit by written essay, passing of the secondary school exam and maintaining their grades through secondary school. They should also do some volunteer work in the school to help younger children during holidays and breaks.

Saira has various mechanisms she will employ to raise the funds but she is now concerned that there are other children beyond the three she is sponsoring who need help. Thus, for the future she is considering modifying the scholarship program towards a needs-based financial aid program which would serve more children in the community.

To me, this is a very powerful example of sustainable partnership. A volunteer came and engaged first hand with the local community the result of which is a longer-term assistance program that also places emphasis on the active participation and “giving back” by those receiving the assistance. The vested interest of the children receiving the aid, community participation, COSAD involvement and generosity of a younger sponsor who wants to make a difference in a meaningful way make it a true partnership.

How the Saira Yusuf Scholarship Fund works:

All students in Standard Seven (final year) at the Primary School level were eligible to participate. Three scholarships will be awarded to cover secondary education for four years.
To apply for the scholarship, students had to submit a written essay called: “The Statement of Purpose”. In the essay, he/she had to cover three areas: a) provide a personal history, b) describe their education aspirations c) and identify how their own education would benefit their community.
Essays were evaluated by an independent team of teachers (that is, teachers not in the community) identified by COSAD.
Ten semi-finalists were selected in the first round to participate in an oral interview from which three finalists were identified. All participating students received a reward from COSAD. The second interview allowed the students a chance to verbally express in more detail their goals and how personal success would benefit the community.
Saira Yusuf got to review the translations of the ten best essays to help identify the three finalists.
Scholarship will be administered through COSAD-Tanzania Scholarship Fund with an account at CRDB Bank in Bukoba, Tanzania.
Fund will be disbursed by term so as to make sure that these students maintain academic excellence.
Upon disbursement of funds, students will sign a commitment paper to volunteer in their community during school holidays and to use their knowledge gained in school to solve community problems. To extent possible, students will be encouraged to come back to Kangabusharo as professionals.
Students sponsored must submit term examination and general progress reports to their sponsor. Failure to do so may result into the termination of the scholarship.

For More Information, Partnerships or Support, Please contact us: Smart P. Baitani, Executive Director

COSAD, Inc. 4624 Hillsboro Avenue North Minneapolis Minnesota 55428
Tel: 612.227.0065 Email: smart@cosad.org Website: www.cosad.org
COSAD Mission:
To build partnerships that create community development through the support
of projects involving micro-enterprise, health, education and culture.
COSAD Vision:
Empowering Tanzanians to get out of poverty, one community at a time.

No Money No Growth!

2009-12-16T01:45:00.000-08:00

The Role of Capital in Community Enterprise Development

Summer Reflection From Smart P. Baitani, COSAD Inc.

October 2009

Last summer, when I visited New York, Sean McNamara, founder of Intrade.com and a COSAD Board member and chair of the Board’s executive committee gave me a copy of a book which I consider to be one of the most relevant books about Africa called “Dead Aid”. For some of us who have been who have been consumed with an insatiable desired to promote the book clearly provides a key answer to a fundamental question: “How do we turn our chronically-depressed communities into an inspiring miracle of dazzling economic growth?”

Answer: “The determination of Africans, and genuine partnership between Africa and the rest of the world, is the basis for growth and development”.

When I think of the best example of self-determination of the people of Bukoba, what comes to mind are a handful of hard working young entrepreneurs who put in over 70 hours a week to support their families and make a difference in the communities. What would be a genuine partnership to such persons?

Most people we are supporting in Bukoba, Tanzania are talented, entrepreneurial, and creative. Their values and dedication to community and family are the same as ours. They just need to be connected to the global community and supported by people like us. Tanzania is endowed with vast resources and strategically located to potentially become the hub of economic success.

Yet these hard working young men and women are among the 2.5 billion people in the world who have no access to financial services. Library of evidences have shown that better access to financial services can fuel economic growth through increased investment in small and medium enterprises.

Working men and women, like Habakkuk Ngaihywa, a iron window maker and Grace Kahindoa, owner of a tailoring shop (who will train the “Sewing Singers”), are among the members of the 26 community groups which are a part of COSAD’s TACE (Tanzania Community Enterprise Initiative). In the last 5 years since these groups were first identified, only two groups have been given a $1000 each as part of the Mount Olivet’s annual benevolent fund. In other words, it will take over 20 years to give each group a $1000.00. For a person like Habakkuk who badly needed investment capital of around $25,000.00 to buy equipment , the $1000 per group is only a skin dip experiment, in his own words, designed to “make us feel good without solving the fundamental problem” of creating sustainable solutions to poverty.

TACE is an innovative market-based micro-enterprise model, which focuses on harnessing the social capital of community groups to build successful businesses toward sustainable economic development. Identifying the values and the strengths in the group as well as well as the potential its members is critical, but is only half of the equation. Providing tools, in terms of capital, training and market access is another part of the equation. The later requires a genuine partner beyond COSAD.

The partnership between RISE (Resources and Innovations for Social Entrepreneurs) and COSAD’s TACE is another testimony of creative partnership which will provide unprecedented access to innovative financial services to thousands of hardworking Tanzanians. RISE was designed to provide a more robust financial services that put into consideration critical business paths to growth and sustainability, including: cultural knowledge, marketing, business management training and great application of financial technology.

The RISE Fund seeks to accomplish to fundamental goals. These include:

a) connect successful local businesses with no access to growth capital with Social Capital Ventures whose principal business is to make loans to support mission-oriented, socially conscience, community-based projects, and

b) assist loan recipients with marketing and business strategies and supervise the Social Capital micro-loans under condition of preferential hiring of marginalized groups, as part of onsite TACE training to become future business owners themselves.

For More Information, Partnerships or Support, Please contact us:

Smart P. Baitani, Executive Director

COSAD, Inc. 4624 Hillsboro Avenue North Minneapolis Minnesota 55428

Tel: 612.227.0065 Email: smart@cosad.org Website: www.cosad.org

COSAD Mission:

To build partnerships that create community development through the support of projects involving micro-enterprise, health, education and culture.

COSAD Vision:

Empowering Tanzanians to get out of poverty, one community at a time.

SMART BAITANI WINS PRESTIGIOUS DICOTA PHILATHROPY AWARD

2009-10-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

October 2009 Press Release:

Dear friends and supporters of COSAD,

I am deeply humbled and grateful to inform you that, on behalf of COSAD, I have just won the DICOTA’s 2009 “OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPY AWARD”.
The award is “to honor an outstanding individual who has invested his/her passion, time, talent, and/or financial support through philanthropic activities…as an agent of positive change in Tanzania and the communities they live in.”

The award will be presented in Houston Texas, this Friday October 2, 2009. The guest of honor is expected to be the president of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Jakaya M. Kikwete who is currently in New York attending the UN general assembly.

On behalf of COSAD Board of Directors, I want to sincerely thank you all for your generous support and commitment to the people of Tanzania through COSAD. I am humbled by the fact that this award was highly competitive and it is the first ever to be awarded to any Tanzanian!
COSAD shall remain committed to building genuine relationships with our friends in the USA and around the world that inspire and empowers individuals in Tanzanian communities to become productive citizens themselves. With your continued support, my dream and vision will only grow stronger!

Thank you again! Warmest regards and Blessings,

For Support, Partnerships, and or More Information, Please Contact:
Smart P. Baitani, Executive Director,
Tel: 612 227 0065 Email: smart@cosad.org web: http://www.cosad.org/

COSAD Mission:
To build partnerships that create sustainable community development through the support of projects involving health, education, culture and micro-enterprise.

ANOUNCING 2009 COSAD GOLDEN PARTNERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS

2009-02-26T01:07:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

One thing that seems to be of consensus is that, given its limited resources and age as an organization, still COSAD has managed to grow faster that we anticipated. There are two explainations behind this as far as I am concerned: Great Board of Directors and Creative Partnerships.

The Golden Partnership Award is the COSAD’s highest recognition presented annually. The award is triggered by two facts: It serves as a symbol of our greater appreciation of the solidarity in the fight against poverty and our journey together to create a more loving and a just world whereby, because of our creative collaboration the impact we have made will last for many generations to come. Secondly, it is awarded as a sign of gratitude to organizations, companies, individuals and/or families for their continued generosity and tireless monetary support to our community development initiatives in Tanzania

....and the 2009 Winners are:

GCN (Global Citizen Network), St Paul, Minnesota
Recognition Description: For Continuing partnership through global volunteers who continue to make significant contribution and impact in the communities of Northwestern Tanzania.
Books for Africa, St. Paul, Minnesota
Recognition Description: For partnering with COSAD to fight illiteracy in rural Tanzania by supplying books to COSAD Community Library. COSAD believes sustainable development requires enlightened communities.
North Country Regional Hospital Nurses-Bemidji
Recognition Description: First group ever to take up a challenge of healthcare shortage in Izigo by creating nursing scholarship for Izigo women.
ERM (Environmental Resources Management) Foundation
Recognition Description: For generous grant to support COSAD to build water resources, including drilling water well. Water is a critical component in COSAD initiatives to Community Development as women now must walk over 2 hours in search of water.
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN
Recognition Description: Not only Mount Olivet as an institution provides benevolent fund each year from TACE (Tanzania Community Enterprise) Micro loans but also its members, individually and in groups such as “Club 56”, “8th Grader Bible Explorers”, Pre-Kindergartens education initiatives as well as One Woman One Goat initiatives. and conformation classes have rallied behind COSAD projects donating monies and supplies for
Trinity Women & St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Calgary, Canada
Recognition Description: Trinity Women of St. Barnabas and the St Barnabas Anglican Church in Calgary are principle partners of COSAD-Canada. They provide logistics and fundraising support for COSAD programs which include CHAI (Community Health Awareness Initiative), OWOG (One Woman, One Goat) initiative and TACE through “Sewing Singers Project”.
Joan Capps Foundation, Delaware
Recognition Description: Partners with COSAD through generous grant to empower girls through education and technology.
Monroe Street, LLC & William Howell, New York
Recognition Description: Sustainability is lifeblood of COSAD. We thank Mr. William Howell of New York and his company, Monroe Street, LLC for their generous financial support towards COSAD’s capacity building.
Hon. Kjell Bergh, Consul Tanzania Consulate Minneapolis Minnesota
Recognition Description: Kjell Bergh has been an honorary consul of Tanzania since 2000 but his passion for and generosity to the people of Tanzania dates as many as three decades back. As business executive he has organized trade missions for business investments trips to Tanzania. As a global citizen, he has served as board of directors or chair in many NGOs which works in Tanzania. (You can see his entire resume at http://www.cosad.org/ under “‘partners’ or ‘events’”).
Luke Lundquist and Gretchen Hinchley & Family
Recognition Description: Luke and Gretchen have been one of the staunchest supporters of COSAD since they were introduced to COSAD in the past two years. Today COSAD recognizes them for their tireless efforts that go over and beyond their monetary contributions. In the past years for instance, Luke and Gretchen haves organized co-workers “goat naming contest” as part of OWOG, they have organized “informational meeting” about COSAD with their friends and continue to make “COSAD as part of their budget”.
Elaine and Ron Larson
Recognition Description: The phrase “COSAD Ambassadors” which refers to all individuals and families that work almost on regular basis in their communities (church places, schools and neighborhood) on behalf of COSAD was emulated after the work being done by Ron and Elaine Larson in Waconia. Ron and Elaine have gone an extra mile which made COSAD gave them a nick name “COSAD Ambassadors”. They have organized Christmas Gifts as part of OWOG and continue to recruit friends to join “OWOG Club”.
Norm and Barb Olson
Recognition Description: Norm and Barb have brought to us a whole new meaning of birthdays. Within the last year they have convinced they grandchildren, family members and extend family members as well as friends that celebrating your birthday while literary giving sense of new meaning to life to a widow is more meaningful than a grand dinner or new gift on your birthday. COSAD now know, each birthday at the Olsons means a new day of hope to one woman in Bukoba!
Susan J Johnson and Family/ BLJ Community Library
Recognition Description: Sue Johnson and her family partnered with COSAD to make sure that the loving spirit and compassionate values of Bruce Lane Johnson continues beyond his passage on earth. COSAD named its Library in Bukoba in honor of Bruce and the family continues to embrace COSAD vision through service and support.
Shannon McNamara & SHARE (Shannon After-School Reading Exchange)
Recognition Description: Shannon McNamara came to Bukoba in the summer 2008 at the age 15 with a grand vision based on simple but powerful idea: after school sharing of idea among girls. What started as a Girl Scout project has now inspired girls in Bukoba to dream big to reach their highest potential.

*(To be presented at COSAD Night of Inspiration By Wayne Wilson, Chair of COSAD Board Committee on Partnership and Programs Development).

Thank you,

Smart smart@cosad.org 612 227 0065

IMUKA (East African Choral Initiative)

2009-02-09T22:03:00.000-08:00

Israel Kagaruki Muganyizi (IMUKA) is in Minneapolis through out the month of February. While I attribute my early passion for singing to my mother, the elevation of music as a unifying agent and a core source of inspiration for social capital and social change is something I credit wholeheartedly to Israel Kagaruki. That is why even our outreach inititive is named after his initiatials: IMUKA.

Israel is an extra-ordinary man. Not just because, as a blind man, has traveled alone all the way from Bukoba to Minneapolis (via JFK) with his three bags. But what he has been able to accomplish and teach us in Kagondo, Bukoba.

Israel Muganyizi Kagaruki embodies the characteristics of the Tanzanian Choir. He is a musician and composer. He is a woodworker. He is an evangelist and social activist. These characteristics combined with the perspective of a man blind most of his life, give him unique gifts to share with the rest of us. Israel has been a leading musical force in Tanzania as well as a leader in social action, particularly as the head of the Tanzanian Federation for the Disabled and the Society for the Blind. He has traveled Internationally, including visiting countries such as Sweden, the UK and Malaysia to represent those causes. He is also well known as an evangelist. Dr. Samson B. Mushemba, former Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, often asked Israel to accompany him as an evangelist.

As a part of COSAD’s outreach and marketing, which aims at promoting COSAD work, foster cooperation and enhancing cross-cultural understanding with our partners and stakeholders, COSAD has sponsored Israel residency in Minnesota from the middle of January through March.
The Outreach committee of COSAD has transcribed for publication 6 of Israel’s estimated over 600 compositions. Several of his compositions have been featured in performances by the Minnesota Swahili Choir and the Carleton College Choir. During his residency, Israel is scheduled to work with the Macalester College Choir and several church choirs as well as the Swahili choir. He will also be a guest Choir Conductor COSAD’s Benefit Event of February 28th in the Twin Cities! If you are interested in this project our want to partner please contact us:

COSAD Board Chair Benjamin Allen Tel: 763.242.3311 Email: bgallen@carleton.edu or
Executive Director Smart P. Baitani Tel: 612 227 0065 Email: smart@cosad.org

WHAT HAPPENED TO TANZANIA?!

2009-02-07T00:24:00.000-08:00

Well, Well, I am back...

I posted a note in my Facebook that I am taking a two-day self-imposed solitude. In fact it wasn't, or I should say it isn't a solitude. I am talking with someone, actually many...They call them authors. I am working on my final Echoing Green thing which is posing more excruciating challenges than I anticipated. Thanks to God my last name is "Baitani" which means "perseverance", otherwise I was about to give up.

Talking about authors, the only reason I came here against the promise I made to myself that I wont go any website other the http://www.echoinggreen.org/ are the disturbing data I have been reading about Tanzania since I started tackling Echoing Greens tough questions. Not that I wasn't aware of the situation being dire in most rural communities in Tanzania, but because I did what I call "comparative political economy" among African countries and I got so mad just about every Tanzanian who can do a dent to make things a little better, including ME! I mean all of us---Tanzanians with access or with opportunity to do something, however small. So I have a question for all of you my brothers and sisters who have ACCESS and POWER (Tanzanians, mostly, and yes including politicians):

How do you feel, what do you think when you read this prominent World Bank Statement:

"After four decades of Independence Tanzania remains one of the 10 poorest countries in the world"! (The Wold Bank)

Tanzania? With all its tangible wealth? With all its impressive cultural vitality and creative human capital?

That means some countries that have been bogged down by wars from, well, inceptions are far better than Tanzania(the average per capita GDP of Sub Saharan Africa is $500; Tanzania is $267....And you don't want me to post some household data here....! You would think I am making up the numbers!)

My good friend Albert Einstein said "The Value of a man resides in what he gives and not what he is capable of receiving"

Talk me down, Anyone?

I happen to believe that it is not just by our actions alone that we will be judged against, but by our SILENCE as well.

Ok, no more macro economics, they tend to be more political than micro. (very few care about micro-stuff!!). I promise, after I get an answer I will stick to the micro....strictly to the community stuff.

Happy Weekend!
.../smart

TACE-Fund Idea Among the Semi-Finalist!

2009-02-05T04:40:00.000-08:00

Friends,

As most of you may already knew, COSAD core program, TACE (Tanzania Community Enterprise) fund won a prestigious spot as an innovative idea for social change at the Echoing Green, Inc. (http://www.echoinggreen.org/), a New York based organization that provides funding and fellowship for emerging 'highly innovative' social entrepreneurs. Or, to put it in their own words: " Echoing Green sparks social change by identifying, funding, and supporting some of the world's most extraordinary emerging social entrepreneurs...". This is quite an accomplishment given the fact that only 30% of applicants--- World-wide---were chosen. However, the competition has only begun and getting stiff.

Just to give you heads-up just in case in the next 48 hours I am in the self-imposed solitude, so you now know the reason! Above all, I need your prayers so bad. If I manage to pull this award off, COSAD will never be same! It will put us all on a whole new difference path in our efforts to equip Tanzanian communities with the tools their need to be productive citizens and lead a vibrant life.

FYI: TACE- Fund is a core program of COSAD which was formed as a creative solution to chronic unemployment and abject poverty in rural Tanzania. The program provides a market-based, micro-business model which starts with Foundation Stage to Formation, then Friendship and Follow-through Stage to foster and promote sustainable economic development using social capital inherently rich in the groups as a leverage to micro-enterprise opportunity.

In short we call it "COSAD Social Capital Community Development Model".
Who knows, may be this is the path to the Nobel Peace Prize! Uh.

Thank you! Stay tuned!

PS: I would also LOVE to hear from you!
Smart smart@cosad.org www.cosad.org

Night of Inspiration

2009-02-02T21:40:00.000-08:00

Community Solutions for Africa's Development (COSAD) invites you all to attend our upcoming Night of Inspiration. It is our annual benefit for the people of Bukoba, Tanzania. It will be Saturday, February 28th at the Holiday Inn Select in Bloomington, MN. We have many events planned starting with a silent auction, then an East African dinner, a Swahili Choir performance, a live auction and an open dance floor. Please check our website, http://www.cosad.org/ if you would like to attend. Bukoba is in northwest Tanzania on the west shore of Lake Victoria. It is a very beautiful location, just a few degrees south of the equator but quite high in elevation so the climate is very mild. --Smart Baitani