Culture of learning
The use of the term learning is deliberate. We see the terms ‘training’ and ‘capacity building’ as signaling a ‘banking’ type of education, implying passivity and the reception of information. In fostering innovation, we work with the idea of organizational learning, of learning by doing and of reflection on our actions as well as on the frames and discourses that shape the field. To this end, we run staff learning sessions twice a month, a critical reading club once a month and each year we undertake a field trip/immersion experience. During 2010, we will concentrate on tailoring learning ‘packages’ to the needs of our partners, through identifying needs, providing support and reflecting on and sharing of lessons learnt.
Field trip/immersion
Our 2009 field trip/immersion (which was undertaken together with SNV) involved all Twaweza staff spending time in 9 
communities in Tanzania’s Lake Zone. The goal was to get our staff to experience in a personal, affective sense, the ways in which Twaweza’s initiatives may or may not connect with people’s everyday lives and what ordinary citizens in Tanzania are already doing and experiencing. We aimed therefore to try to envisage the feasibility of our theory of change, and to ensure that our work does build on what is already happening rather than supplant it. In groups of two or three, we were placed in eight rural villages and one urban location in the Lake Zone. We spent three nights living with host families and shadowing them in their daily lives and exploring aspects of their environments, followed by two days reflecting on what we had observed. To see a public power-point presentation on the immersion lessons see here.
We plan to undertake the next immersion visit in early November 2010 in Kenya, in collaboration with Uwezo Kenya.
Interns at Twaweza
Interns play a very important role in Twaweza’s work and we welcome applications from students in East Africa and internationally. We are always looking for new interns to support us in our main areas of work: partnerships, learning and communications, Uwazi and administration. Internships are available in our three country offices, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
We encourage applications from skilled and motivated young people to serve as interns at Twaweza. The purpose of the internship is to provide an opportunity for individuals to substantively contribute to and learn from our work. The intern will be given specific tasks and responsibilities and will be challenged to develop their capabilities and gain experience. The intern is expected to be flexible and to take part in various activities at the office.
What we offer
Twaweza does not offer any remuneration for its internships. It offers an exciting work environment, modern office space, lunch and a travel allowance.
How to apply
To apply for an internship, write a letter stating which area of our organization you are interested in working with to interns@twaweza.org. Attach to the e-mail your CV, two writing samples, and two letters of reference. Only complete applications will be considered.
