Plans for
An Outreach Program
of
Non-Credit Development Courses
at
Sebastian Kolowa University College
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1. The general aim
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In addition to formal degree programs, the academic plan of SEKUCO will
also include an outreach program by offering Non-Credit Development
Courses (NCDC). Therefore, apart from the Formal Degree Program (FDP),
the task of the Academic Staff at SEKUCO will be to form a curriculum
for the outreach program and carry out the courses. These courses will
stand independently and they will be non-credited. They will be awarded
with Attendance Certificates.
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| The overall aim of having the Outreach program is to utilise the
expertise at SEKUCO in improving the living conditions of common
Tanzanians who live in the nearby as well as those who come from
distant places. Through the NCDC, people will be able to acquire
knowledge on different types of skills, thereby improving their
performances in different enterprises. Meanwhile, visitors and tourists
who choose to come to the region for holidays or retreat due to its
nature will be offered professional orientation of the ecological
richness surrounding SEKUCO. Through the Outreach Program, SEKUCO will
be a meeting centre for people of different walks of life. |
In accordance with the focus that SEKUCO is to place on improving the
living conditions of disabled people, the Outreach Program will offer
orientation courses for people who are disabled or involved in
disability issues.
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The Department of Special Needs Education
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| The department will organise courses and seminars that are to be
offered to people who live or work with disabled adults and children.
The aim of the courses will be to equip and support disabled people and
their families as well as people who are involved in disability issues
with a variety of skills and techniques in physical assistance,
teaching/training methods and spiritual counselling. |
Although the courses will be open to all, it may attract:
- Relatives of disabled people.
- Community workers who are involved in programs that involve
meeting people with disability and their families and relatives.
- Pastors who often feel poorly equipped to meet and serve people
with disability. The curricula of theological training in Tanzania,
particularly the area of Practical Theology, lack this important
orientation.
- Evangelists and Parish workers. These are forms of ministry for
lay (un-ordained) people within the ELCT, Evangelists and Parish
Workers meet many people in the community with different types of needs
and serve without discrimination.
- People who find themselves in the situation of being expected to
provide guidance to others might find it useful to have good knowledge
on how to counsel people who live with disability so that they may
advice in a constructive way.
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| The Department of Nature Resources’ Conservation and Tourism |
This department will organise courses, seminars, guided tours, meals
and accommodation that build upon an ecological and nature-friendly
concept. The courses and seminars will be open to people from within
and outside Tanzania.
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The aim of this program will be two-fold. First, the program will
intend to provide an opportunity of learning and enjoyment. People will
be able to learn about different types of vegetation, including
indigenous vegetation, enjoy healthy food products from the Food
Processing unit at Irente Farm and visit the beautiful sites and view
points in the mountains as well as the lowlands. Secondly, the program
will aim at reversing the on-going trend of environmental destruction
and exploitation in the country, Tanga region included. |
While courses and seminars will be open to all, particular target groups will be:
- Activists who are engaged in environmental issues.
- Local government leaders, religious leaders as well
as other “significant people” from different parts of Tanzania.
- Eco-tourists from abroad who are on their holiday travels.
- Tanzanians who are in search for enjoyable nature and landscape.
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The Department of Business
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| A development program will be prepared with the aim of equipping
Tanzanians, particularly women and youth, with courses in business and
entrepreneurship. The National Strategy for Growth and Poverty
Reduction adopted in 2005 aims at reducing poverty in Tanzania by half
in the year 2010. One strategy of poverty reduction is to promote small
and medium enterprises (abbreviated SME). For the latter to be
feasible, business and entrepreneurial skills at different levels of
the economy are needed. |
Among others, the department will expect to offer courses to:
- Leaders of organised youth- and women groups in a given local area
who are aiming at a joint venture or who have opened one.
- Individuals who are about to open their own enterprise, thereby
wanting to acquire skills in business management and good
entrepreneurship.
- Disabled people who can learn a particular skill.
- Potential employers of disabled people who have learnt some
practical skills that may be related to carpentry, gardening, typing,
cleaning, etc.
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The Department of Law
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Informal programs under this department will strive towards making
people aware of their civil and legal rights. The aim will be to
empower common Tanzanians with knowledge that will help them to defend
their own rights simultaneously as they gain sensitivity about their
duty to be “advocates” of other people’s rights.
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The audience targeted here will include:
- Women who have been deprived of their belongings after being divorced.
- Widows whose property has been confiscated by relatives of their deceased husbands.
- People with disability who experience open or hidden discrimination.
- Local government leaders and public servants in local communities.
- Significant people and volunteers who are willing to stand up for
vulnerable children, such as orphans and those who are disabled,
particularly those who are abused in different ways as well as those
who live under circumstances of violence.
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SEKUCo 
