By Anthony John
A prominent psychologist, educator, and counselor, Sadaka Gandi, affectionately known as Aunt Sadaka, brought her deep understanding of Tanga’s unique culture and its people to her crucial role as a member of the TangaYetu Steering Committee. Her unwavering passion for transforming communities was a driving force behind her profound involvement in TangaYetu Phase One, an initiative where she personally witnessed profound changes in attitudes and engagement among Tanga’s vibrant youth and resilient women.
Changing Perspectives and Creating Ownership
Aunt Sadaka spoke candidly and with heartfelt observation about the significant shift she personally observed within the community during TangaYetu Phase One:
“As someone born and raised right here in Tanga, I intimately know our culture, our way of life, and our inherent attitudes,” she shared thoughtfully. “During this project, I saw truly profound changes, particularly in how proactive women and youth became.”
Initially, women embraced the project with remarkable enthusiasm. However, the youth, according to Aunt Sadaka, required more dedicated effort to shift from a passive, “God will provide” mindset to a more dynamic, proactive approach. “Once they truly took initiative, we saw remarkable changes,” she noted, highlighting with pride how young individuals involved in projects like modern poultry farming and innovative boat management grew visibly proud of their hands-on work and the tangible impact of the TangaYetu brand.
The single most valuable lesson gleaned from TangaYetu Phase One, in Aunt Sadaka’s expert opinion, was the indispensable importance of cultivating genuine community ownership in all projects.
“When the community is fully and authentically involved right from the initial planning stage, the results are invariably impactful and sustainable,” she explained. “It became clear that projects where beneficiaries actively participated in the planning process were executed flawlessly and achieved their goals.”
She emphatically emphasized that all need assessments must genuinely involve community members. This ensures that projects are meticulously aligned with their true priorities and pressing needs. This deeply inclusive approach, she asserted, empowers all stakeholders and intrinsically motivates them to take complete charge of their projects, fostering a sense of collective responsibility and success.
The Role of the Steering Committee
As an integral member of the Steering Committee, Aunt Sadaka meticulously described her work as ensuring precise alignment between project goals, allocated budget, and practical execution.
“We worked hand-in-hand and collaboratively with the backbone organization, diligently assessing the relevance of each proposed project to Tanga’s specific needs and strategic priorities,” she explained. “For instance, we consciously decided to reject a particular mapping project because, at that precise moment, it simply wasn’t a top priority for the city’s immediate needs.”
The committee meticulously required detailed, itemized budgets for every single project to guarantee that funds were utilized with maximum effectiveness. Their core principle was consistently prioritizing value for money and delivering tangible, measurable results.
“Every single project was thoroughly and critically evaluated before receiving approval. It wasn’t merely about having the funds available—it was profoundly about maximizing their potential impact for the community,” she underscored with conviction.
Aunt Sadaka also took a moment to commend the exemplary leadership of their committee chairperson: “He was not only intellectually intelligent but remarkably practical in his approach. We openly debated every intricate detail until we collectively reached a firm consensus, ensuring robust decisions.”
Tanga as a Model City
When specifically asked if Tanga could realistically serve as a model for other cities across Tanzania, Aunt Sadaka responded with resounding confidence and immediate affirmation: “Absolutely. TangaYetu has undeniably shown that when people are genuinely informed, actively involved, and given true ownership, projects unfailingly succeed.”
She eloquently cited compelling examples such as the highly successful poultry and agribusiness projects, which have already been commendably replicated in various other regions of Tanzania. “These proven projects,” she noted, “could very well become prototypes for similar impactful initiatives elsewhere, powerfully demonstrating how youth can acquire vital skills, generate sustainable profits, and ultimately build resilient, long-term livelihoods.”
Challenges and Recommendations for Future Success
During the foundational Phase One of the TangaYetu initiative, Aunt Sadaka candidly highlighted several significant challenges that, at times, hindered progress and impacted overall project outcomes. A major recurring issue was the misalignment of objectives between the Steering Committee and the Tanga City Council. These inherent differences frequently caused friction, as some council members unfortunately viewed the project as merely a convenient means to access funds, leading to a noticeable degree of complacency and a regrettable lack of genuine commitment.
Another pressing challenge identified was the typically short duration of many individual projects, often lasting only six months. This critically limited timeframe severely restricted opportunities to meticulously ensure true sustainability and achieve lasting, long-term impact. Additionally, a palpable lack of capacity among some Tanga City Council staff, who often lacked adequate, specialized training in crucial areas like project management and execution, regrettably resulted in avoidable delays and significant inefficiencies.
To proactively overcome these identified challenges and ensure even greater success in Phase Two, Aunt Sadaka proposed several judicious recommendations. Firstly, she emphatically emphasized the critical need for comprehensive and targeted training for all Tanga City Council staff directly involved in TangaYetu projects. This essential training would rigorously focus on advanced project management techniques and a complete alignment with Steering Committee goals, designed to foster significantly better collaboration and enhanced overall efficiency.
She also strongly recommended extending the duration of all future projects to at least one year, coupled with mandatory quarterly evaluations to proactively identify and swiftly address any emerging challenges. Moreover, she passionately called for the establishment of clear, robust mechanisms to definitively ensure the sustainability of all projects, enabling their profound impact to extend far beyond the initial implementation period. Finally, Aunt Sadaka profoundly stressed the paramount importance of improved monitoring and transparent reporting. She argued that regular, detailed updates on project progress would significantly enhance transparency, provide invaluable opportunities for timely mid-course corrections, and ultimately build stronger, more enduring trust among all stakeholders.
A Vision for the Future: Sustainable Urban Development
Reflecting deeply on the initiative’s immense potential, Aunt Sadaka eloquently highlighted its pivotal role in fostering a truly process-driven approach to comprehensive community transformation. “When the process is meticulously done right, the positive results will always naturally follow,” she powerfully remarked, underscoring the importance of method and dedication.
For Aunt Sadaka, the enduring success of TangaYetu undeniably lies in its intrinsic ability to genuinely engage and profoundly empower communities, thereby creating an exemplary model for sustainable urban development that possesses the remarkable potential to be effectively replicated across the entirety of Tanzania and, indeed, potentially far beyond its borders.
“I am profoundly proud of what we have collectively achieved thus far, and I eagerly look forward to witnessing this vital initiative continue to grow and flourish,” she concluded. “TangaYetu stands as a compelling blueprint for how cities can truly thrive through the power of authentic, community-driven development.”