We're on a mission to foster applied learning focused on empathetic problem-solving to foster leadership and community engagement.
Our School Partners
Mtakuja Secondary School
Located in Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Mtakuja Secondary School (MSS) is a boarding school serving 185 students in Forms One through Four (grades 9–12 in the U.S.). MSS primarily serves students from low-income backgrounds, and about 45% of its students come from the local Maasai community.
MSS is the founding partner school of Tanzania Design Project. Since 2016, we have run our design thinking program there every year, helping students tackle real community and school problems and grow their capacity in creativity, empathy, confidence, and sustainable problem-solving.
Arusha Technical College
Founded in 1978 in Arusha, Tanzania, Arusha Technical College (ATC) is a public technical institution training engineers, technicians, and innovators through hands-on, practical learning. Its motto: “Skills make the difference.”
Tanzania Design Project’s partnership with ATC is beginning its pilot club program in 2026 with Dr. Kanyonga, bringing social design thinking training to campus, where students learn to tackle real-world problems with creativity, empathy, and hands-on prototyping.
Our team
Mussa Challa
Certified Design Mentor
Mussa Challa is an educator who is passionate about inspiring those around him to discover their potential. Mussa taught Civics and English at the secondary level, and was the first Tanzania Design Project Mentor.
Rufina Antony
Design Mentor
Rufina is a natural leader in and out of the classroom. She is an integral mentor heading up the design course at Mtakuja Secondary School.
Hubert Kimaro
Design Mentor
Hubert Kimaro is a dedicated Tanzanian educator at Mtakuja Secondary School. He specialises in teaching Civil studies and career pathways.
Dr. Labani Kanyonga
Design Mentor, course coordinator
Victoria Ulimboka
Design Mentor
Victoria Ulimboka has a deep commitment to empowering secondary school students, Victoria helps them to discover and pursue their career aspirations, guiding them towards meaningful and fulfilling futures. Her expertise in career development is complemented by her genuine enthusiasm for helping others to grow, both personally and professionally.
Victoria continuously seeks opportunities to challenge herself and expand her entrepreneurial skills, reflecting her growth-oriented mindset. She holds a certification as a trainer and coach from Midland University (USA) and has studied design thinking through Bellevue University (USA), equipping her with innovative tools to support both students and educators. Her academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Dar es Salaam.
Victoria is driven by a desire to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people in Tanzania, providing them with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in today’s competitive world. Her dedication, combined with her passion for continuous learning, positions her as a role model for both students and colleagues.
JoDee Goracke
Co-Founder, Project Director
JoDee is an I/O Psychology professor whose research focuses on the applications of human-centered design, empathy, and community problem solving. Since launching the Tanzania Design Project in 2016, her commitment has been to support educators in Tanzania by developing social design learning experiences that foster creativity, confidence, leadership, and human-centered approaches for impactful education and sustainable solutions for the community.
Brian Kear
Co-Founder, Project Creative Director
Brian is a creative designer located in Omaha, Nebraska operating at the sweet spot between simplicity and innovation. Driven to answer design problems through great work for living breathing human beings.
Let's work together.
Our Partners
