Innovation Week 2018
IRIS PROJECT members (Sinyati and Nancy) from TUDARCo were excited to attend the INNOVATION WEEK at COSTECH which was held from 21st to 26th May, 2018. The Innovation Week is a platform for sharing innovations that make a positive impact in human development. The theme of the event was titled “INNOVATION INTO ACTION”.
Sinyati and Nancy attended a few workshops and presentations from different organizations that are making a huge difference in Tanzania ranging from health, education and water /sanitation/ hygiene.
Sinyati at the first day of the Innovation week
They were so inspired by projects similar to IRIS that use innovation to solve different problems in the society. Some of the inspirational companies met at COSTECH were UBONGO KIDS– a Tanzanian edutainment cartoon that teaches Math and science to kids across Africa through fun animated stories by the use of digital technologies that they already have like mobile phones and TV.
Another company met was REVOLUTIONIZING REMITTANCE RECOVERY IN WATER (R3W) which used innovation to provide access to clean and reliable source of water to the community. They came up with a pre pay water system and this innovation has simplified and improved the lives in the communities.
Nancy listening attentively to R3W presentation elaborating on the role of technology and innovation in bringing about access to safe water to tanzanians.
The mentioned companies above are funded by HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION FUND. HDIF aims to identify and support innovations that have the potential to create social impact.
The goal of Visiting COSTECH INNOVATION WEEK was to collect ideas which might help the IRIS Team in planning the TIBE event next year. With no doubt, INNOVATION week will be a great platform for exhibiting the REVERSE INNOVATION MODEL IN HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS.
Exhibition of grantees innovative services and products during empowering, educating and elevating women and girls through innovations workshop
Lesson learnt at the innovation week:
– The importance of involving users in service or product design/innovation
– Collaboration – with different expertise across disciplines and industries in all stages can facilitate design, implementation, learning and dissemination of results.
– The projects that are making the least progress are those that operate silos
Sinyati with a big smile after information sharing with ANZA NA NDOTO
The panelist at the stage during the empowering, educating and elevating women and girls through innovations workshop