Tanzanian researcher takes forward his learning movement—and how!
Thoughtfox reached out last week to Mohamed Mwinyi, a doctoral researcher at Virginia Tech and founding president of Soma International: an organization dedicated to promoting learning in Tanzania. The interview was conducted by Piyush Mathur via Google Messenger on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. With the consent of Mr. Mwinyi, the interview transcript has been copyedited for clarity, grammar, and spelling consistency.
Mathur: Mr. Mwinyi, it has been roughly a decade since I first met you in Blacksburg, Virginia. At the time, you were doing your Bachelor's—and would soon start working toward establishing a library in your home village in Tanzania. Now it is April 2020, and you are, again, in Blacksburg—doing your doctoral coursework in Agricultural Leadership and Community Education at Virginia Tech. You are also married; and a proud father of a young son. Along the way, you have established two libraries/learning centres in Tanzania—and are continuing to expand the scope of your efforts in that direction via Soma International: an organization that you founded and manage. Thoughtfox readers would be interested to know how you measured the distance between the idea of setting up a library in your village in Tanzania and actually doing it? What were the most important steps that you took?
Mohamed Mwinyi, Founder & President of Soma International, in 2019 (Photo credit: Wanda Price)
Mwinyi: Thank you so much, Piyush. Yes, it has been almost 10 years since we came across each other. In all honesty, I just had the drive of giving back to where I grew up: Boko, Dar Es Salaam. My vision was to see a library/rural learning centre there. I figured that I had to get other Virginia Tech students involved in my mission, by spreading the word about it on campus and in Blacksburg. However, it was not an easy task. I quickly realized that I had to learn to tell my story. While I was used to singing to the public in Tanzania, I had to get used to addressing people—Americans—in English: something that was difficult, and had to be learnt.
I was joined by M. Cecilia Silva Montoya—the first person to join my mission—in September 2012. We sat down and planned how we were going to establish our first library in Tanzania. We also realized that we needed someone who had other networks and an ability to raise funds.
In Pranay Bhargava, I found such a person in the Fall of 2013. He joined us; and with his added knowledge and skills, he helped us further our connections and strategies.
That is what was happening on the US side. In Tanzania, I decided to engage with local leaders for three consecutive Summers: in the Junes of 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2015, we established our first library-cum-learning centre.
The two sides—the US team and the Tanzania team—as well as the rural learning centres helped us measure the durability of the project. We were happy that it had gone as planned. Again, it was not an easy task.
Mathur: No doubt, it couldn't have been easy by any means! Before I get into further details of your statement, let me ask you this: What is Soma International exactly? What is its current scope—and was it in any way different or relatively limited at its inception? And, finally, where do you see the organization going further down the line?
Mwinyi: Soma is a Swahili word meaning read and/or learn. This word is used interchangeably [for either of those two meanings]. My initial vision was centred on establishing one library, named Soma Sasa—meaning, Read/Learn Now. After the first library got started, I felt a great sense of accomplishment. But then I realized that this library would benefit only my own village in Tanzania—even though when I met with leaders from other villages, they expressed that they also wanted to have libraries built. Looking back and seeing how big the movement had been at Virginia Tech and in its surrounding communities— including Blacksburg—I also did not want to end right there. I found that I could extend this opportunity to other villages.
Both Cecilia and Pranay—the two amazing people that had joined me—supported taking the project into other villages. They both had an immigrant family background—with roots in developing countries—and each one of us had transferred to Virginia Tech from community college. So, we decided to embark on a lifelong journey of establishing rural learning centres across Tanzania. We eventually may extend our mission to other countries in East Africa, because they share similar predicaments of little access to learning materials and libraries.
Between 2015 and 2017, when I was working on my Master’s, we continued to strategize about our second learning centre. Then in 2018, we were able to establish that second learning centre—in Suwa (Handeni, Tanga).
After the second library/learning centre was established, I spent approximately two years in Tanzania to follow the development and the impact these libraries might have had in these two communities. During that time, I found that they had had minimal impact, because the people there had never seen libraries before and they needed to be told and shown the significance of these libraries to them and to their children. So, I went back to the drawing board with my team—and we decided to make not solely libraries, but libraries-cum-learning centres where the community could access educational material as well as acquire vocational skills. That is when we changed our name from Soma Sasa to Soma International, to reflect the change.
Mathur: So, from establishing one village library, you have now embarked upon articulating a network of libraries for rural Tanzania and even the rest of East Africa! That's very impressive. Also, I recall that your earliest idea was to take books and learning equipment—such as computers, printers—from the US to Tanzania. Is that correct?
Mwinyi: Yes, we had initially decided that we were going to collect books for K1-12; raise awareness; get as many people involved as possible; and raise funds. We shipped our first 10,000 books in 2014, and these books were split into the two libraries. My earliest idea was to collect books as well as learning equipment—such as computers. However, some villages do not have electricity—even though our government is now trying to bring electricity throughout the villages.
Anyway, we continue to gather books and to raise money—so that we could buy books written in Swahili, and textbooks for the Tanzanian curricula. We plan to establish additional learning centres in the villages that already have electricity. Thus, we are definitely going to collect computers and other learning materials for them.
Mathur: Since the idea of the library has been expanded into an economically sustainable "learning centre" model, as you implied earlier, do you have a set and hierarchy of skills that these centres provide or might provide in the future? I mean, for example, you could have a set of skills that could be imparted at a learning centre—and you could also have different levels at which these skills could be imparted. So, how does it work there? And does a centre also formally certify a person who may have gained a type and level of skills there?
Mwinyi: Oh, yes. Around sixty percent of the country’s population is under 25. Men in these rural areas take on the weight to provide for their family. Soma International sees the opportunity to educate women and the youth in entrepreneurship programmes, which will potentially contribute to a better economy. We have not started any of these programmes, but we are creating them currently. I am drawing on my doctoral training and research to help me choose what skills and programmes to introduce.
One of the first programmes we are going to create in these learning centres would be for primary and secondary school curricula. We are going to have higher-grade kids help out lower-grade ones; we are also going to partner with teachers to make these programmes possible. Then we will track their success and impact once in two years to chart our future.
Also, with these learning centres in place, Soma International is going to encourage the use of space for agricultural seminars like the ones offered by Extension Service programmes in Tanzania—which help the country’s rural farmers. At the learning centres, the Extension Service agents would be provided space and resources.
We are also creating an entrepreneurship programme for women, which we aim to establish by July 2021. Other programmes would focus on leadership and vocational training of the youth and women. This will help them integrate into the social system, unlike the structure that currently exists in many of these villages. Currently, mostly men and elders are the ones who enjoy leadership positions, and they often reject progressive ideas.
My ongoing doctoral research at Virginia Tech is within Agricultural Leadership and Community Education; so this is my specialty, and I wish to invest what I have been learning into these rural learning centres in Tanzania. (My own learning has been helped a lot by Professor Rick Rudd, my doctoral advisor, who has worked in many agricultural development programmes in the US and Africa.)
Mathur: So, maybe there would be some sort of certification processes also down the line at these centres?
Mohamed: Yes, absolutely. We will first partner with the villages to provide a certificate of completion [to the trainees]; then we will continue our effort to partner with governmental vocational training programmes toward having a proper certification system for our centres.
Mathur: Speaking of progressive ideas, when you were starting out on this Soma journey—and maybe even as you were moving further along—did you encounter any types of resistance to your initiative, be it in the US or in Tanzania or elsewhere? If not resistance, per se, then any casting of doubt, criticism, or dismissal of your idea?
Mwinyi: Haha! Good question! It was not resistance per se, but I encountered one particular type of question both in the U.S. and Tanzania. I was fascinated by it—and asked myself, how could that be? Some folks here in the U.S. asked me if by doing this project I was planting the seeds for a future political office for me in Tanzania. In addition, in Tanzania, they asked me what level of public office would I be seeking—and where would I want to be.
The truth is, this mission of Soma International simply gives me a sense of purpose; it allows me to share the opportunity with my home country that I was fortunately given in the US. I do not expect any direct return from what I am doing, except for building my skills and expanding my network to engage people across the globe to pick up an act of caring and community development. There is economic and educational inequality; and to make the world we live in a better place, we have to support our disadvantaged communities through education at the very least. I believe education is the only sustainable tool that can be used as a solution to poverty and insecurity disparities. In general, Tanzania needs these learning centres in many places.
I also met a few people back home in Tanzania who believe that there is some big money behind all this. There were times when it was difficult to implement the projects until after I had shared what I had planned. I had to get others to understand the structure of Soma International, and to convince them that this was not a project that is going to be abandoned or profited from for personal benefit—but that it was for the community, out of our love and will.
Mathur: Since the time you started out, a lot has changed around the world. The global penetration of the Internet and smartphones has been exponential through the past 10 years anyway—and there may be no looking back on that count. Against this backdrop, libraries as well as learning have also changed. Conventional libraries, at least in the West, have been finding it difficult to carry on as usual; physical books are increasingly unaffordable; newspapers, magazines have been going out of business; and even the academic institutions—especially their non-technical disciplines—have also been downsizing or merging or simply going extinct. And once the COVID-19 crisis is over, the world would be an even poorer place—with an even greater chunk of the learning process having been carried over to the Internet. Given this massive transformation that we have witnessed over the course of only a few years, how does Soma International's activities—especially the learning centres themselves—find themselves affected by any of the associated factors?
Mwinyi: Wow, what an astute thought! For the past 10 years things have changed a lot especially in the area of information systems; and with the growth of COVID-19, we are once again reminded that at some point in time, we have to fully embrace changes in technology. Soma International has been aware of the technological change—and also of the disparity in it between the developed and the developing countries.
In Tanzania more than 80% of the population owns a cellphone; however internet coverage is still minimal, and the service is still not affordable to the masses. Since our learning centres are situated in rural areas, we have two major challenges: [limited or interrupted access to] electricity and the Internet. We know that these challenges will be met in a matter of time as the government of Tanzania strives to lay the groundwork for electricity across the country. Soon after ensuring [access to] electricity, we will focus on [establishing] internet connections. In the meantime, we think it is important to have learning centres in place, because education is needed in the rural areas. In addition, we see these centres as vital spaces for transitioning to technology—and we are seeking to add computers and other learning gadgets.
There is an organization in Tanzania that focuses on E-learning, but I am sad to say that the beneficiaries are typically those living in the cities with better infrastructure. Soma International seeks to support those in disadvantaged communities so they are not left behind and are integrated well into the developmental goals.
COVID-19 has slowed our programme progress here in the U.S. We have 11 officers in Virginia Tech Student Organization (VTSO) working with us. They have a number of tasks that they have to accomplish this Spring Semester as well as beyond. We had to adjust our project and goals due to the compulsion to work remotely; however we are currently working well, and adjusting to this new way of communication and life.
I was initially going to go to Tanzania this summer to prepare and organize information to begin constructing our educational programmes and a third library. But that would have to wait until after the COVID-19 situation is settled—and travel is safe again. However, the current times provide an opportunity for our organization to explore new communication strategies and to further utilize online platforms. I am thankful to my team for all the related adjustments.
Mathur: In an informal interaction we had preceding this interview, you did make a reference to these student organizations that you had been trying to establish in the US. Could you please tell us briefly what these are—and how exactly you are going about establishing them?
Mwinyi: Yes. Last year Soma International was successfully registered as a non-profit organization in Virginia. Soon after, we registered a student organization at Virginia Tech for Soma International. This student organization—which is officially a Virginia Tech Student Organization (VTSO)—organizes events for Soma International on campus; manages Soma International’s social media; runs its campus operations; collects books for it; and raises funds in its behalf. This VTSO’s officers also gain a lot in return for their hard work: Their Board of Directors helps them gain new professional and personal skills; it helps them with job opportunities, recommendations, and referrals; and it also shows them how to give back to the community and make a global impact.
We decided to work with students because they are very committed to volunteering; they genuinely want to serve the wider world. During my undergrad, I led the organization to the point of opening the first two learning centres; so it was only appropriate for me to work with current undergrads to recharter the organization.
My colleagues and I see great potential in utilizing university channels in advancing our goals. We are also looking to expand into other US universities. We have some of the most empathetic, thoughtful, intelligent, and committed students. Soma International has also partnered with other student organizations at Virginia Tech—such as the Consulting Group at Virginia Tech (CGVT), Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and other organizations (including Greek Life). They are helping us grow our footprint, business plan, branding, and fundraising.
Mathur: That's very ambitious—not unlike Soma International itself! You know, our readers would be most interested if you could share with them any 2 truly memorable experiences that you may have had through the course of your Soma journey so far: experiences that you would be glad, 30 years later, that you shared with Thoughtfox—instead of having to lose their memories to the ravages of time.
Mwinyi: My first memorable moment was in 2012—when I stood up in front of a student organization’s weekly meeting; these students studied and collected data for Dr. Scott Geller's lab, Center for Applied Behavior Systems (CABS). I remember the class being very quiet—with all eyes focused on me. My English was not as fluent then, so I froze; I could not get my words straight while pitching my idea for Soma. However, I still was able to draw students to me to express their interest in my project.
Public speaking was my weakness—but I overcame my insecurity and revealed my vulnerability. Everyone said that I was not a good speaker but I had a conviction for the project and I was authentic. The lesson to take home from this experience is, trust yourself and stand by your vision and convictions. People will gravitate toward that and the other things would fall into place.
Also, that meeting was when Cecilia joined me—and she is still with Soma International. We also discovered Pranay, who is also still with the organization, as a result of that presentation—as he used to work in another one of Dr. Geller’s student organization (and was also involved with people who worked at CABS). Cecilia is now the Vice President—and Pranay, the Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operations Officer—of the organization.
My second memorable moment goes back to the time when we launched our second learning centre—in December 2018. The entire village of Suwa came to celebrate its first library and learning centre. What was so fascinating was the gender balance among the attendees: It is rare in rural villages of Tanzania to see women coming out to such events in high numbers; normally it is mostly men that attend them. This event made me happy—because with these learning centres we are looking to provide space for both men and women in the community through education and entrepreneurship programmes. When we launched our first centre back in 2015, almost 90 percent of the attendees were males. This moment showed great progress. There’s still a lot of work to be done to help the people of Tanzania; and we at Soma International are looking forward to overcoming every challenge.
Mathur: Thank you for those two nuggets! But I won’t let you off just yet. I know that you are also a musician. I don't know about the nuances of music, but from the few songs of yours that I have heard I thought you were a very accomplished singer. Is it possible for our readers to access any of your songs online for free? That might be a good brief distraction from COVID-19!
Mwinyi: Yes Piyush, I spent 6 years (2003-2009) in Tanzania working on music. I do have some videos on Youtube (I go by the music pseudonym ‘Moh Bright’)—and here are three songs that your readers might like to hear: "Kama ni Raha" (meaning “For Happiness",” recorded in 2007); "Muungano Daima" (meaning “Forever United,” recorded in 2014); and "Mama" (meaning “Mother,” recorded in 2016). I sure hope that your readers find these songs a nice escape from our global pandemic.
I reduced my time spent on music after coming to the United States as I had to focus on college. I have since recorded some songs and music videos, but never released them commercially. Currently I am working on an educational song that will be released on all music platforms for the purpose of spreading awareness about and raising funds for our learning centres. I think it's time to bring together my music talent, my education and philanthropy: The proceeds would be dedicated to building learning centres in Tanzania. So, stay tuned! The song is projected to be launched at the end of August!
Mathur: Well, Mr. Mwinyi, it was a great pleasure having you with us at Thoughtfox! From our interactions a few years ago, I remember you as a very helpful, upbeat, and warm person. I wish you all the best in all your endeavours—and hope to have you back with us sometime in the future.
Mwinyi: It would certainly be a pleasure for me to reappear on the Thoughtfox platform. Thank you for having me on here today.
Mathur: Thank you!
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Mohamed Mwinyi is pursuing a Ph.D. in Agricultural Leadership and Community Education at Virginia Tech; as an undergraduate, he received its Aspire! Award in Spring 2013. If you wish to donate to Soma International—which Mwinyi founded and leads— then click here; if you wish to contact him, then please click on his name above.
Piyush Mathur, Ph. D., is a consultant in international affairs and education with several years of transdisciplinary research and teaching experiences in US, Nigeria, India, UK, and Vietnam. He is the author of Technological Forms and Ecological Communication: A Theoretical Heuristic (Lexington Books, 2017). For his shorter publications, click here. If you wish to contact him, then please click on his name above.