My name is Peter Wilhelim Mshomba, I live in Arusha region of Tanzania. I am a teacher by profession at the secondary level and I work with an organization called Youth Development and Transformation (YODET), which addresses various issues, including offering training in areas such as self-awareness and entrepreneurship. I also serve as the Secretary of YODET.
My journey with TFT (Training for Transformation) began in 2022 when I attended an introductory course. There were 47 participants in this course. In 2023, 16 of us from the original group were selected to receive further training at the certificate level. This training was followed by another program called Training of Trainers (T.O.T), which prepared us to teach other people. In 2023, I also had the opportunity to participate in another TFT program, this time with youth from various regions of Tanzania, which was also at the certificate level.
In April 2024, I began the TFT Diploma program, which is offered in South Africa. I am still pursuing this program and expect to graduate in August 2025. Throughout this journey, I have learned many lessons, but one of the most significant lessons was the topic of Putting Freire into Practice. This was my first encounter with Paulo Freire and his educational methods with an emphasis on empowerment rather than mere teaching.
The concept of the Banking System of Education, which was explained through an image of two people at a petrol station one standing and pouring petrol into the sitting person’s head resonated deeply with me. This image depicted the traditional approach to education, where teachers fill students with knowledge. After encountering Freire’s ideas, I realized the importance of an inclusive approach to teaching, one that encourages students to evaluate themselves and focus on the issues that truly matter to them. I applied this philosophy every time I facilitated a training session, shifting from being just a teacher to being a facilitator.
TFT has significantly transformed me, and it wasn’t a quick change but a gradual process. Since I began this training, I have felt different at every stage. One of my biggest challenges was speaking in front of others. I used to fear public speaking and believed I was not capable of leading. However, through self-reflection and goal setting, I started making changes. I now feel more confident speaking in front of groups and have even accepted leadership roles. I serve as the Secretary of YODET and I am also the Chairperson of the Youth at my Church. Additionally, I am the chairperson of another church youth group called “Unity in Action” and serve as the Youth Representative in my community fellowship.
TFT has also helped me manage my time better and organize my daily schedule. I have learned to live peacefully with others, respecting our differences, and have been able to set a personal vision for the next 10 years something I had never thought of before.
This personal growth has not only benefited me but has also had a positive impact on my family, organization, and community. My family has noticed the changes in me and greatly appreciates the growth I have experienced. I have been involved in various community projects, including poultry farming and vegetable farming, which provide for my family and the local market. I also participate in community clean-up activities and at my church, where I have planted trees in various areas. These actions have had a positive impact on both my church and my community.
Through TFT, my organization, YODET, has benefited as well. We now have clear group goals, and we respect our differences, using them to benefit the group. In my role as a facilitator, I have kept in touch with several participants from the workshops I have conducted. Below is a testimony (words) from one of the participants that attended one of the workshops I conducted.
“My name is Aisa Mremi from Singida. I work at a private institution focused on Anti Human Trafficking. The first time I attended the training from Peter was in 2024. Initially, I thought it was a training like other trainings, and I didn’t think it would be such an amazing training like how it was. On the other hand, the training was getting me out of a box tied up with many ropes. The training sparked a fire within me and increased my capacity and understanding to analyze things, and set achievable and realistic goals. In the institution where I work, I raise awareness among people of all ages. Also, TFT has enhanced my creativity in my work, for example, delivering messages through games which sometimes bring much energy to the participants. Beyond work, this training has motivated me to revive businesses that I had previously given up on and to set strong, achievable goals. The workshop was really amazing as it made a new chapter in my life.” Following the training, Aisa’s organization launched a program specifically for males, which aims to help men of all ages understand themselves better, particularly with the bodily changes they go through. This will be with the help of a male doctor. She wanted to know if I could guide her on how she can incorporate the methods we were using (Freire’s Approach). She was particularly concerned about the challenges they might face when reaching older individuals, as teaching them might be difficult, but allowing them to engage in conversation themselves would greatly help them reach the place they want to. Additionally, she asked if I could be part of the program whenever they need me.
By now I have reached more than 820 people with my trainings within and outside of my region. I have formed a youth Group called Unity in Action, a group that focus on helping each other in personal and spiritual growth, we also visit different people who are in need and help them in different tasks including cleaning around their homes. My fellow youth and I are also looking forward to start cultivating two crops (we are thinking of cultivating Ginger and Garlic). We are in the final stage of collecting data about the total price of planting. We expect to start this in June.
Lastly, TFT helped me to meet fellow youth from 8 African countries and one from Asia. We keep in touch and exchange ideas. For me this is a great connection.
There have been challenges along the way, though. One notable challenge occurred during a workshop I facilitated when I needed to arrange chairs in a semicircle without tables. Some participants resisted, as they were accustomed to sitting with tables. It took more than five minutes for them to accept this new seating arrangement. By the end of the workshop (after three days) the participants came back, apologized, and admitted they had never experienced such an approach before.
Another challenge I faced was from some youth in my community who ridiculed me for cleaning the environment. They believed that I had no work to do, but through my actions and persistence, I was able to show them the value of contributing to our surroundings.
In conclusion, TFT training has brought significant hope and positive change into my life. It has not only transformed me but has also had a ripple effect on my family, community, and organization. The lessons I have learned have empowered me to become a better leader and facilitator, and I look forward to continuing this journey of growth and transformation.
