By Anthony John
The TangaYetu initiative has fundamentally reshaped Tanga, an ancient coastal city, into a vibrant model of community-centered, youth-focused urban development. Spearheaded by Fondation Botnar and powerfully supported by dedicated local institutions and invaluable global expertise, TangaYetu represents a truly transformative journey toward sustainable urban growth, with youth empowerment resolutely at its core. This article delves into the origins, key challenges, and resounding successes of TangaYetu, as eloquently recounted by one of its most dedicated champions, Philotheusy Justine Mbogoro. His insightful perspectives illuminate the intricate process of building robust partnerships, effectively overcoming obstacles, and meticulously crafting a sustainable future that brings tangible hope and boundless opportunity to Tanga’s dynamic youth.
Laying the Foundations: The Origins of TangaYetu
The inspiring story of TangaYetu is, at its heart, a narrative of hope born from a profound tragedy. The Fondation Botnar, based in Switzerland, initiated its global “OurCity” initiative, under which TangaYetu was meticulously developed, as a deeply personal legacy to support young people worldwide. Philotheusy Justine Mbogoro, a respected former government official and the dedicated Fondation Botnar representative in Tanga, recalls the foundation’s moving origins. “Fondation Botnar was established in memory of Octavian Botnar’s only beloved daughter, who tragically died at just 18 in an accident,” he recounts somberly. “Her untimely passing profoundly motivated the Botnar family to create a lasting legacy dedicated to supporting youth worldwide, to help them build lives filled with opportunity and promise.”
Fondation Botnar’s strategic engagement in Tanga was firmly solidified in 2018 when it held its first-ever board meeting outside Switzerland right in the city. This pivotal visit unequivocally cemented Tanga’s immense potential as a leading model for innovative urban renewal and youth-centered development. “The board came, they saw Tanga, and they immediately recognized its vast potential,” Mbogoro recalls. “It was a defining moment that powerfully underscored the city’s inherent promise and confirmed the foundation’s unwavering commitment to transforming Tanga into a beacon of hope.”
Initial Projects: Addressing Road Safety and Life Skills
TangaYetu strategically commenced by addressing immediate, tangible community needs that could quickly foster a safer, healthier, and more supportive environment for youth. Two early, impactful projects focused critically on road safety and essential life skills development through engaging sports programs. One of the very first initiatives was a crucial road safety project in collaboration with the NGO AMEND, specifically aiming to significantly improve hazardous conditions for schoolchildren navigating Tanga’s high-traffic zones. “Traffic safety is a critical, ongoing concern in Tanga,” Mbogoro explains. “AMEND’s vital work successfully created dedicated pedestrian walkways, wisely restricted motorcycle taxis (boda boda) in sensitive school areas, and installed safe, clearly marked crossings for children, thereby ensuring they could travel to school with significantly greater safety and peace of mind.”
Following this foundational project, TangaYetu successfully launched the innovative Young Coach Program, generously funded by the Scott Foundation, which uniquely introduced comprehensive life skills training for children through the engaging medium of sports. This program meticulously taught resilience, discipline, and effective teamwork to children aged 6-9 years. “It wasn’t just about the sports themselves,” Mbogoro thoughtfully reflects. “We strategically utilized sports as a powerful platform to build essential life skills that would serve these children well beyond the playing field and throughout their lives.”
Data-Driven Urban Planning and Strategic Development
As the project dynamically expanded its scope and ambition, it became increasingly clear that TangaYetu critically needed a robust, data-driven approach to maximize its impact and ensure resource efficiency. “Without reliable data, we felt like we were shooting in the dark, without precise aim,” Mbogoro frankly states, emphasizing the necessity of empirical evidence. This pressing need for precise, actionable information led to a strategic partnership with the University of Dar es Salaam to conduct a comprehensive Data Needs Assessment, which successfully created a foundational, extensive database designed to meticulously guide all subsequent youth programs and inform broader urban planning initiatives.
With Tanga’s urban growth accelerating rapidly due to the anticipated arrival of a major oil pipeline, TangaYetu proactively turned to cutting-edge drone technology to digitally map the city’s complex topography. This advanced mapping initiative laid a crucial foundation for highly effective urban planning and strategic infrastructure development. “The digital map provided a truly smart blueprint,” says Mbogoro, “allowing us to precisely anticipate potential urban development challenges and plan proactively and strategically for the city’s future growth and resilience.”
Capacity Building and Local Empowerment in Phase 1
While Phase 1 saw impressive strides and notable achievements, it also candidly revealed a significant limitation: the relatively limited capacity of local organizations within Tanga to independently implement large-scale projects. Mbogoro openly acknowledges, “Initially, we regrettably had to award many crucial consultancies to firms based outside Tanga, from places like Dar es Salaam and Iringa, due to a pressing lack of specialized local expertise.” Recognizing this critical gap, TangaYetu responded strategically by prioritizing comprehensive capacity building among Tanga’s own institutions. A vital collaboration with Inco, a renowned French organization specializing in entrepreneurial ecosystem development, offered targeted training and essential resources to over ten key local institutions within Tanga.
Mbogoro reflects on the profound importance of this strategic shift towards local capacity building: “Our core desire was for Tanga’s own organizations to confidently lead future projects with enhanced confidence and refined skill. Now, local institutions are significantly more prepared and capable, enabling them to successfully secure grants and proficiently manage projects independently. This crucial development means that future initiatives will be authentically driven by Tanga’s own indigenous talent and expertise.”
Community-Centric Projects: Revitalizing Public Spaces and Supporting Livelihoods
Central to TangaYetu’s fundamental mission is its unwavering commitment to truly community-centered development, where the revitalization of public spaces and the direct support of local livelihoods are given paramount priority. Among the most celebrated and visible projects is the remarkable renovation of Jamhuri Park, a historically popular and cherished recreational area. “Tanga’s youth desperately needed a safe, modern, and inviting space to gather, play, and interact meaningfully,” Mbogoro explains. Through close and effective collaboration with the Tanga City Council, TangaYetu successfully upgraded Jamhuri Park into a welcoming, vibrant environment that has since become a focal point for both youth and families across the city.
Alongside this significant public space revitalization, TangaYetu has also intensely focused on actively supporting local livelihoods. By thoughtfully providing fishermen with modern, efficient boats, equipping farmers with improved, higher-yield seeds, and supporting young entrepreneurs with dedicated business incubation spaces, the project has meticulously created sustainable pathways for robust economic empowerment. Mbogoro highlights the initiative’s holistic and integrated approach: “We’re not simply providing temporary solutions. We are actively fostering a conducive environment where individuals and local businesses can grow independently and sustainably, thereby helping to build a resilient, self-sustaining community from within.”
Expanding Educational Opportunities: STEMPark and Data Integration for Future Planning
Recognizing the indispensable role of quality education in achieving sustainable development, TangaYetu has made significant and strategic investments in both educational infrastructure and innovative learning approaches. One prominent initiative is STEMPark, a state-of-the-art science and technology center developed in inspiring collaboration with Project Inspire. This impressive facility provides Tanga’s youth with crucial access to high-quality STEM education resources, enabling them to explore vital fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in an engaging, hands-on, and practical environment. “Science and innovation are fundamental drivers of global development and competitiveness,” Mbogoro asserts. “STEMPark equips Tanga’s youth with the essential skills they need to thrive and compete effectively in an increasingly knowledge-based world.”
Complementing the practical learning offered at STEMPark, TangaYetu launched a meticulously planned second phase of data collection specifically designed to further refine project planning, enhance program evaluation, and ensure greater impact. Partnering strategically with ESRF (Economic and Social Research Foundation), TangaYetu systematically gathered granular data on health, education, and social welfare indicators to precisely tailor its programs to Tanga’s specific and evolving needs. “Reliable data enables us to make informed, strategic decisions and allocate our precious resources most effectively,” says Mbogoro. “With this data, we can directly address the community’s most pressing needs in a targeted, impactful, and measurable way.”
Addressing Phase 1 Challenges and Enhancing Project Management in Phase 2
Phase 1 provided invaluable lessons and critical insights, particularly regarding project management efficiency and coordination. A key and significant improvement implemented in Phase 2 was the strategic consolidation of TangaYetu’s technical and financial operations under a single, unified entity, Innovex, specifically designed to significantly reduce administrative delays. “In Phase I, we operated with separate teams managing technical and financial aspects, which regrettably led to coordination issues and avoidable delays,” Mbogoro explains. “With Innovex now comprehensively overseeing both critical functions, we’ve successfully streamlined our operations and markedly improved the overall project flow and efficiency.”
Additionally, a newly established Steering Committee now provides ongoing oversight and ensures robust accountability, diligently evaluating past projects to continuously refine and optimize future ones. “This committee’s vital role is to learn systematically from both our successes and our challenges, constantly guiding us toward achieving even greater impact,” Mbogoro shares. The committee’s dedicated work significantly enhances TangaYetu’s long-term sustainability, creating a resilient model that can effectively adapt and thrive well beyond its initial implementation stages.
Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Youth and Local Organizations
Phase II of TangaYetu places a strong and deliberate emphasis on the creation of a robust and self-sustaining local entrepreneurial ecosystem. By equipping local organizations with essential business skills and advanced project management expertise, TangaYetu aims to empower them to confidently lead future projects independently. Strategic collaborations with key partners like Inco and the Global Youths Network actively support the growth of this burgeoning ecosystem, with the Phase II “Evaluation to Action” principle meticulously ensuring that all proposed projects are thoroughly assessed and validated before full implementation. “We’re diligently creating a solid foundation where potential gaps can be identified early, allowing us to continually improve and adapt,” Mbogoro explains, highlighting the iterative approach to development.
This strategic focus on fostering local entrepreneurship cultivates a robust and supportive environment for youth-focused projects and significant organizational growth, ultimately building the inherent capacity for sustained, positive community impact.
Looking Ahead: Building a Legacy of Transformation
TangaYetu’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment, sustainable urban development, and data-driven planning has firmly established it as a profoundly transformative force within Tanga. Mbogoro, reflecting deeply on TangaYetu’s enduring legacy, envisions a future city where young people are provided with the opportunities and resources to build fulfilling and prosperous lives. “Our vital mission is far from complete,” he shares. “TangaYetu is fundamentally about creating a future where Tanga’s youth can truly thrive. We’re investing not just in tangible projects but, crucially, in people and their limitless potential. It’s about diligently building a future brimming with opportunities, resilience, and shared prosperity for the entire community.”
TangaYetu’s Enduring Impact on Community and Youth Development
The TangaYetu initiative has firmly established itself as a beacon of hope and a powerful catalyst for renewal within Tanga. Through its unwavering commitment to youth-centered, community-driven projects and its strategic, data-informed approaches, TangaYetu has successfully redefined urban development in Tanga. Each meticulously planned project and every collaborative partnership represents a significant step toward creating a truly sustainable, inclusive future where young people play an indispensable and vital role in the city’s ongoing growth and evolution.
As TangaYetu continues to evolve and expand its reach, it powerfully exemplifies the transformative power of genuine collaboration, showcasing precisely how strategic partnerships and a deeply shared vision can effectively create a brighter, more promising future for all. With every new project undertaken, TangaYetu meticulously paves the way for lasting, positive change, thereby leaving an enduring impact that will profoundly shape Tanga’s development trajectory and empower its youth for many generations yet to come.