Young alumna changemaker Elitumaini pays it forward in Tanzania
Elitumaini Swai ‘19 and the UWCSEA Foundation Team
9 October 2024
In our Gift of Stories series, we share more about our community’s spirit of giving, one story at a time. Join us as we discover how #UWCSEAGiving makes a difference.
“We envision to support industrial development in Tanzania by inspiring, encouraging and sparking a love for science subjects among the younger generation.”
From the moment Elitumaini Swai '19 joined UWCSEA, her passion for science and the curiosity it fuels have been a big part of who she is. Her time at UWCSEA, combined with the knowledge and skills she honed at university, deepened her commitment to making science accessible and inspiring for others. Hoping to spark that same excitement in younger generations, she founded Sayansi Ambassadors back in 2021, to provide access to hands-on educational STEM programmes to Primary School students in Tanzania.
Elitumaini delivering a heartfelt thank you to the guest speaker during the East Campus 2019 Graduation ceremony.
Coming to UWCSEA, I got the opportunity to do a lot of things which included growing academically, taking part in Service activities and student-led projects, travelling around Asia, seeking new challenges and nurturing existing ones. I see UWCSEA as a place that makes ordinary people capable of doing extraordinary things.
UWCSEA inspires action
During her two years at UWCSEA from 2017 to 2019, Elitumaini embraced every opportunity to bring people together – a telling sign of her future as a community leader back home in Tanzania. She actively participated in Service activities, including Global Concerns groups such as the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS), Focus Africa Global Concerns, and Initiative for Peace (IfP) Cambodia as well as CultuRama, a celebration of artistic expression where students showcase performances reflecting diverse culture and heritage.
Elitumaini with her fellow scholars at UWC Day celebration on East Campus.
Elitumaini at the East Campus 2019 Graduation ceremony.
Passion and purpose
In 2019, Elitumaini received a university scholarship to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in the United States, where she pursued Chemical Engineering and a Master's in Business Management, blending her passion for engineering and business. Committed to sustainability, she led clubs like the African Student Association and served as a Sustainability Intern at WPI. Elitumaini’s research at university focused on climate resilience planning in Australia and clean energy solutions in the United States, reflecting UWCSEA’s values of thinking globally and acting locally to make the world a better place.
She later founded Sayansi Ambassadors in 2021, bringing hands-on learning to public Primary Schools in her hometown of Moshi, Tanzania. Sayansi Ambassadors then expanded its reach across Tanzania, offering STEM education to more districts with help from grants from The Davis Projects for Peace and the Women's Impact Network.
Elitumaini in Tanzania when she founded Sayansi Ambassadors in 2019.
Empowering change through Sayansi Ambassadors
Sayansi Ambassadors’ approach focuses on community-centred learning, collaborative efforts, and mentorship, equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for a promising future.
Elitumaini teaching students at Arusha Chini Primary School in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Their seasonal outreach workshops offer international service opportunities to university students who are passionate about supporting communities through a hands-on STEM education, and mentoring Primary School students. These students then gain practical insight into STEM subjects and how science can be used to address their local community needs.
“The main goal of the Sayansi Ambassadors project is to provide a hands-on learning experience to public Primary School students in Tanzania, which will enable them to develop a deeper understanding of science concepts, arouse curiosity, and see how theoretical science knowledge can be applied to real-world practices. Additionally, as science is an unfamiliar concept for many Tanzanian children in public schools, the aim of this project is to help students recognise the practical nature of science and understand its role in addressing community needs.
Fostering creativity and a problem-solving mindset allows young people to see hope and possibility in addressing the conflicts that arise from the unemployment crisis in Tanzania.”
“I learnt that there are uncultivated STEM talents from underserved communities, which if channelled into the right direction with the right resources and mentorship, could spark an industrial revolution for Tanzania.”
Empowering the next generation
Elitumaini’s story is an inspiring example of the impact of community giving and how it can support the growth and development of future changemakers. Follow Elitumaini’s work with Sayansi Ambassadors on their Instagram page @sayansi_ambassadors
#UWCSEAGiving invests in futures of possibilities and potential, inspiring more young people to be the change they want to see in the world.
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