Expand Our Workshop and Makerspace Facilities

TWENDE MAKERSPACE

Building Expansion Progress Report

Introduction

At Twende, our mission has always been to accelerate innovation for both youth and adults, empowering them to become creative problem-solvers who develop practical technologies that address personal and community challenges.

As awareness of our programs continues to grow, so does the number of makers, innovators, and learners who depend on Twende Makerspace for training, collaboration, co-working, and solution-building. To meet this rising demand and honour our commitment to hands-on design and learning, expanding our physical space is essential.

This report shares our latest progress, highlights why this expansion matters, and outlines the steps ahead as we continue to move forward with confidence, thanks in large part to the generous support of the GlobalGiving community.

Progress Update

Since our last report, we have continued to build momentum. Building on the milestones already achieved, completion of architectural drawings, active follow-up on construction permits, and identification of qualified site assessment professionals and we are pleased to share two significant new developments:

1.  Professional Cost Assessment Completed

We have now engaged a qualified professional to conduct a formal cost assessment for the construction of the new building. This assessment was carried out using the actual site measurements, ensuring that the cost projections are accurate, grounded in reality, and aligned with the specific scope of our planned extension. Having reliable cost figures in hand is a critical milestone; it allows us to plan our finances with greater precision, identify funding gaps, and approach future funders with a credible and detailed investment case.

2.  Prototype Storage Space Expanded

One of the most pressing practical challenges at Twende has been the limited space available for storing prototypes built by our innovators. We are pleased to report that we have now expanded our backspace at Twende to provide additional dedicated storage for prototypes. This improvement directly supports the ongoing work of our innovators by giving them a more organized, accessible place to keep their creations safe while they are in development. Although this is an interim step ahead of the full building expansion, it meaningfully improves day to day operations at the makerspace right now.

Earlier Milestones (Previously Reported)

• Architectural drawings for the expanded makerspace are fully completed, covering structural plans and layout improvements
• Active follow-up with local authorities on our construction permit application is ongoing, and we are working closely to secure approval as quickly as possible.
• Qualified structural engineering and surveying professionals have been identified and consulted in preparation for the formal on-site assessment.

Why This Expansion Matters

This expansion is about far more than bricks and mortar. It is an investment in people, the problem solvers, innovators, and change-makers who are already using Twende to build a better future for their communities. Concretely, the expanded makerspace will:

• Allow Twende to serve a significantly larger number of innovators of all ages, removing the physical barriers that currently limit how many people we can support at one time.
• Enable more and larger training sessions in design, problem-solving, and technology development
• Provide safer, more efficient working areas for fabrication and prototyping, reducing the risks that come with working in overcrowded or inadequate spaces.
• Better accommodate the growing number of community-driven innovations emerging from our programs, including expanded prototype storage so innovators can continue developing their ideas without disruption.
• Introduce a dedicated Digital Lab where innovators can access digital tools, learn programming, explore digital fabrication and electronics design, and push into the frontier of technology-driven innovation.
• Strengthen Twende’s long-term sustainability as a center for innovation and empowerment; Ensuring we can serve generations to come.

Every step of progress, from the architectural drawings to the cost assessment to the expanded storage space brings this vision closer to reality.

Next Steps

Over the coming months, our focus will be on the following priorities:

• Finalize construction permit approval with local authorities.
• Complete the formal on-site structural assessment with qualified professionals.
• Begin early-stage construction activities once all necessary approvals are secured.
• Continue fundraising to support the full build-out of the expansion, including the new Digital Lab.
• Communicate progress regularly to our supporters and community.

Our Gratitude to GlobalGiving Supporters

We want to take a moment to express our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to GlobalGiving and every donor who has contributed to this campaign. Your generosity is not an abstract figure on a screen; it is visible in the architectural drawings on our wall, in the professional who came to measure our site, in the expanded storage space where our innovators can now safely keep their prototypes, and in the growing confidence of every young person who walks through our doors believing that they can build something that matters.

You are partners in this journey. The trust you have placed in Twende drives us to be diligent, transparent, and purposeful in every step we take. We do not take lightly the responsibility of stewarding your support, and we are committed to reporting openly and honestly as we move forward.

This expanded makerspace will carry the spirit of your generosity for many years to come. We are excited to continue sharing updates and, in due course, to invite you to celebrate the opening of a space that will change lives in Arusha and beyond.

At Twende, our mission has always been to accelerate Innovation to both youth and adults so that they become creative problem-solvers and Innovators who develop practical Technologies that address personal and community challenges.

As awareness of our programs continues to grow, the number of makers, innovators, and learners that depends on Twende Makerspace for training, collaboration, co-working, and building solutions has also grown.

To be able to meet this rising demand, and to be true to our commitment for hands-on Design and training, it is important that we expand our physical space. This extension will grant us the ability to accommodate more innovators with larger class sizes, house more prototypes, and ultimately increase our impact across Tanzania.

 Progress Update

With the support from the community and GlobalGiving donors, we have been able to make considerable progress in the initial phases of our building extension project. Some of the major milestones achieved so far are as follows:

• Completed Architectural Drawings: We are pleased to share that the full architectural drawings for the extended makerspace are now completed. It includes structural plans, improvements in layout, and space allocation designed to provide support in learning, collaboration, and safe fabrication activities.
• Follow-Up for Construction Permit in Progress: With the drawings done, we have actively engaged in consultations with local authorities for construction permits. We are on it and following it up very closely to see that the approval is granted at the earliest time.
• Identifying Professional Personnel for Site Examination: A professional assessment of the extension area, which must be structurally safe and compliant with the building standards, is required before construction begins. We are currently in the process of identifying and consulting qualified experts, like structural engineers or surveyors, who are able to conduct a deep on site assessment.

Why This Expansion Matters

• The makerspace expansion will allow Twende to serve a larger number of innovators of all ages.
• Offer more training sessions in design, problem-solving, and technology development.
• Provide safer and more efficient working areas for fabrication and prototyping.
• Support the increasing number of community-driven innovations emerging from our programs
• Strengthen our long term sustainability as a place for innovation and empowerment.
• Introduce a dedicated Digital Lab that will allow innovators to access digital tools, learn essential digital skills, and expand into areas such as programming, digital fabrication, electronics design, and technology-driven innovation

More than just a building, this will be an investment in the problem-solvers, innovators, and change-makers of the future.

Next Steps

Over the next several months, we will:

• Finalize the construction permit approval
• Complete professional site examinations
• Begin early-stage construction activities once approvals are secured
• Continue fundraising to support the full build out of the extension

 We would like to express our deepest gratitude to GlobalGiving supporters. Your donations are directly helping Twende grow and reach more learners, strengthening innovation in our community. We're excited to share more updates as we draw closer to making this expanded makerspace a reality.