INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

Development and Operationalization of effective research and training.

The Rationale and Justification

The institute has made the mandate of undertaking research and training on Swahili language, history and culture.The research work will later be used by both local and international researchers particularly when they come to do their research in the institute. Swahili language and culture has gained international recognition and therefore people from different parts of the world are interested in learning Swahili.

Student reading Swahili poetry

Achievements

The Research Institute of Swahili Studies has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of London, where students take their semester abroad with RISSEA. The university is happy with RISSEA programme offered to the SOAS students during their training in the institute. More researchers have found out about RISSEA and they make it their first choice and the number is growing by the year.

Challenges

Developing and enhancing proper marketing systems for effective and efficient research and training unit. Developing and promoting of partnership and collaboration network with other institutes for effective research and training on Swahili studies.

Strategic Focus

The strategic focus for RISSEA is to partner with other organizations nationally and internationally so that more students come to learn and affiliate with RISSEA in their research work on Swahili studies. The introduction of summer field school is to attract Swahili students to the institute. The institute is focused to be self sustaining in coming years and even gradually grow into a model institute in the wide region of East Africa.

Activities

Development and sustaining of Swahili training programmes including field schools, school based and outreach programmes.

Preparation, documentation and dissemination of Swahili research materials for researchers, students and the public. This can be done through journals, directories, dictionaries, catalogues e.t.c.

Development and operationalization of a sustainable resource centre and special programmes

The Rationale and Justification

The Swahili resource centre will be composed of a library, an archive, offices, conference facilities, language laboratory and teaching space. The resource centre once fully furnished will attract both local and foreign researchers and students. The conference hall will be hired to the community and other interest groups for meetings and other special occasions. This will tend toincrease revenue for the institute which is aiming to be self sustaining in the near future.

Achievements

The construction of the complex is a major achievement for the directorate. It will attract knowledge seekers on Swahili studies to come and do their research work and learn more about
the language and Swahili culture. The institute has launched its annual Swahili cultural festival last year and hopes to continue with the same and even improve in the coming years.

Challenges

Acquire and operationalize the resource centre for the use and accessibility by researchers, students and the general public. Generating, developing and disseminating of Swahili materials. Establish and operationalize Swahili Culture Museum to showcase various aspects of Swahili History, Culture and Language. Strengthening and enhancing of Swahili cultural festival.

workshop

Strategic Focus

The strategic focus for the directorate is to see the resource centre functioning so that the institute is able to implement its research agenda as well as accrue financial gains. The institute will initiate a desktop publication unit, translation services and a language laboratory. The Swahili Culture Museum once constructed will be a teaching museum and revenue generating project. This will attract a lot of tourists, researchers and students. The conference hall will be hired to the community and others as part of our corporate social responsibility. Activities Development and strengthening of a scientific and cultural library for researchers, students and the public.

Development and operationalization of an effective Swahili special collections and archive (Books, manuscripts CDs, photos, tapes and other digitized forms.)Operationalization and commercialization of an effective conference/ seminar halls equipped with modern soundproof systems and audiovisual facilities. Development and strengthening of community outreach programmes on specific Swahili themes eg Annual Swahili cultural festivals, Swahili cuisine, Swahili attire, Swahili building traditions, maritime tradition and other live aspects of the Swahili. Development and operationalization of Swahili Arts and Craft Unit.

Rationale and Justification

The directorate runs a Swahili arts and craft unit which has a production unit of Swahili furniture and trains Swahili carpentry for boys and tailoring for girls. The production unit is an income generating project while the training section is aimed at offering job opportunities to the surrounding community youth.

Achievements

After the post election violence the production unit and students intake was heavily affected. But now the situation is coming back to normal. This year there was a significant increase in the enrollment of students’ intake and the production unit.

Challenges

Develop marketing tools for the Swahili art and craft unit. Develop and operationalize a showroom for showcasing Swahili art and craft. Enhancing efficient and quality training in arts and craft. Strategic Focus in order to improve and attract a big clientele to the institute the following activities will be implemented:

• Construction of a showroom to showcase the beauty of the Swahili furniture 
• Employ more carpenters to work at the production unit 
• Offering job opportunities to the graduate of the training unit, as we have already started with the first batch going to work in Sharjah. 
• Increase revenue from the production unit to sustain the institute.

Activities

Enhance quality and sustainable training programmes in Swahili art and craft. Ensure consistency and added value in the production of Swahili art and craft. Develop a mechanism of commercializing our products and services.