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Lazime uingie akaunti ili kubadilisha wasifu wako au kuona wasifu wa wengine

Umeshafungua akaunti? Ingia

Ingia
Umesahau nenosiri lako?
Sijapata barua pepe ya kuthibitisha

Fungua akaunti mpya

Taarifa
Majadiliano
Methali
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Celebrate World Swahili Day by voting in our Proverb Essay Contest and learning Swahili!

➡️ Read the Essays here ⬅️

Click ❤️ to Cast your Vote  


We are so excited about the amazing essays we've gotten from you all in English and Swahili!  To all the participants, we say THANK YOU and congratulations on your great work! 
Read the essays and vote for your favorites now - the 3 essays with the most ❤️s will receive cash prizes!

We've published all the essays submitted so far here : www.maktaba.org/contest/essay
Share this link with your friends. Anyone can create a free account in seconds and cast their vote by clicking ❤️. You can vote for as many essays as you like!

To enable both Swahili and English speakers to participate, I've added a comment to each essay with a rough translation. Click on an essay from this page and scroll down to see the translation. (You must be logged in to see comments)

Today is the deadline to send your submission for our Proverb Essay Contest! If you haven't yet, please e-mail your essay about any proverb to tuzo@maktaba.org today! (English or Kiswahili accepted.) 


Learn Swahili on World Swahili Day! (Free Resources)

In Tanzania, today is also Saba Saba, celebrating 69 years since Julius K. Nyerere founded the Tanganyika African National Union to advocate for independence.

Happy World Swahili Day from Maktaba.org!
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Marejeleo
Today is the deadline to send your submission for our Proverb Essay Contest! If you haven't yet, please e-mail your essay about any proverb to tuzo@maktaba.org today! (English or Kiswahili accepted.) 

Proverb Essay Contest 🡺 Read the Essays here 🡸 Click 🤍 to Cast your Vote ❤️

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Heri ya sikukuu ya Saba Saba! Sherehekea kwa kupiga kura katika shindano la insha ya methali

➡️ Soma insha zote hapa ⬅️

Bongeza ❤️ ili kupiga kura  


Tumefurahi sana sana kusoma insha zote tulizopokea kutoka kwenu. Kwa wote walioshiriki tunasema Asanteni na hongereni kwa kazi nzuri!
Zisome na upige kura kwa insha zozote unazozipenda. Insha tatu zitakazopata ❤️ nyingi zaidi kabla ya tarehe 15/7/23 zitapokea zawadi za pesa!

Insha zote zilizowasilishwa zinaonekana sasa hapa: www.maktaba.org/shindano/insha
Karibuni mshirki link hii (kiungo) na marafiki zako na wengine. Mtu yeyote anaweza kufungua akaunti haraka bila malipo ili aweze kupiga kura kwa kubongeza ❤️. Unaweza kupigia kura kwa insha zozote unazozipenda!

Leo ndio tarehe ya mwisho ya kuwasilisha insha yako kwa Shindano la Insha ya Methali! Tafadhali wasilisha insha yako juu ya methali yoyote kwa tuzo@maktaba.org leo! (Kiingereza au Kiswahili).

Jifunze Kiswahili leo Siku ya Kiswahili Duniani (Rasilimali bila malipo)


Leo Saba Saba tunasherehekea miaka 69 years tangu Julius K. Nyerere Alipoanzisha TANU ili kupigania uhuru. 

Heri ya Sikukuu ya Saba Saba na Siku ya Kiswahili Duniani kutoka kwa Maktaba.org! 
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Marejeleo

Shindano la insha ya methali

➡️ Soma insha zote hapa ⬅️

Bongeza ❤️ ili kupiga kura


Leo ndio tarehe ya mwisho ya kuwasilisha insha yako kwa Shindano la Insha ya Methali! Tafadhali wasilisha insha yako juu ya methali yoyote kwa tuzo@maktaba.org leo! (Kiingereza au Kiswahili).
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We need your help!

Do you love writing? Enjoying our Proverb of the Day?
Maktaba.org is celebrating International Swahili Day 2023 with an Essay Writing Contest!

Submit your essay about a proverb before 7/7/23

Submit your essay about any proverb here or email it to us at tuzo@maktaba.org
today for a chance to win Cash Prizes!
  1. First place ➜ 50,000/= TSh or $20 USD
  2. Second place ➜ 25,000/= TSh or $10 USD
  3. Third place ➜ 12,500/= TSh or $5 USD

Contest Rules

The winners will be chosen by maktaba.org users! The three essays that get the most likes ❤️ by July 15 will win. Anyone can cast a vote by logging into their Maktaba.org account and liking your post. (If you haven't opened your account, join today, it's free!) 

Step 1: Choose a proverb. The proverb can be in any language, but it should be a real proverb that many people know, not one that you made up. If you can’t think of one, check out our books of proverbs here!

Step 2: Compose a short essay that explains what the proverb means in your view. 

Requirements
  1. Language: The essay must be in English or Kiswahili.
  2. Length: The essay must be typed, between 80 and 1000 words long (longer than a sentence, but not more than 2 pages)
  3. Copyright: Your work will be distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which says, in short, that anyone can copy, change, translate or print your work without your permission, as long as you are mentioned as the creator.

Suggestions (optional)
Here are some ideas you may want to include in your essay:
  • Origin: Explain the origin of the proverb, if known. Remember to cite your sources.
  • Common Uses: Explain when and how the proverb is usually used, giving examples.
  • Creative Writing: Write a poem or tell a short fictional story that relates to the principle of the proverb
  • Personal Experience: Tell a personal story that illustrates the proverb from your own experience.
  • Application: Suggest how readers can apply the principle of the proverb to improve their daily lives
  • Anecdote: Share a related anecdote from science, history, mythology, or literature. Remember to cite your sources.
  • Similar Proverbs: Find similar proverbs from around the world.
  • Opposite Proverbs: Are there any proverbs that contrast with this one?
  • Discussion: Asking questions that invite readers to reflect on and share their own thoughts and experiences.
  • Illustration: Draw, take or find a picture that illustrates the proverb and include it in your essay.
These are just a few ideas to inspire you. For more, look at some of our previous proverb posts. We look forward to seeing your creativity! 

Step 3: Upload your essay here
Deadline: 7 July 2023

If you have any trouble submitting your essay, you can also email it to us at tuzo@maktaba.org. Don't forget to provide your payment information in order to receive your cash prize if your essay is chosen.

Submit your essay here before 7 July 2023! 


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Marejeleo
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Today we are very happy to announce the winners of Maktaba.org's first Proverb Essay Contest! Most importantly, we want to express our sincere thanks to all who participated in this competition. You have taught us a lot, thank you! 

➡️ All essays ⬅️


🏆 Announcement of the Winners

And now, without further ado, let's congratulate the winners of the first Proverb Essay Contest...

🥇 First place winner:
Nankya Sauda 🇺🇬 Uganda
 for her essay on the proverb
➜“Still waters run deep

🥈 Second place winner:
Rose Mwanri 🇹🇿 Tanzania
for her essay on the proverb
➜“Akiba haiozi” (Savings doesn't rot)

🥉 Third place winner:
Magreth Lazaro Mafie 🇹🇿 Tanzania
for her essay on the proverb
➜“Mchumia juani hulia kivulini” (He who toils in sun eats in the shade)

Congratulations to everyone who participated!

   The three winners have already received their prizes, and all writers were given certificates of recognition for their contributions. (If you have not received your certificate yet, please contact us.)
   This competition was held in honor of World Swahili Day (Saba Saba). This is the first contest we've sponsored online. We ask for your advice, please comment below, should it be done again? Due to the great response we've had from participants in various East African countries, we are already starting to plan.
   If you didn't submit your essay the time, don't miss the next contest. Join Maktaba and confirm your email to make sure you'll be notified!
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Leo tuna furaha kubwa kutangaza washindi wa Shindano la kwanza la Insha za Methali la Maktaba.org. Kwanza kabisa tunataka kutoa shukrani zetu za dhati kwa wote walioshikiri katika shindano hili. Mmetufundisha vingi, asanteni!

➡️ Insha zote ⬅️


🏆 Tangazo la Washindi

Sasa bila kupoteza muda, tuwapongeze Washindi wa Shindano la kwanza la Insha ya Methali:

🥇 Mshindi wa nafasi ya kwanza:
Nankya Sauda 🇺🇬 Uganda
kwa insha yake juu ya methali
➜“Still waters run deep

🥈 Mshindi wa nafasi ya pili:
Rose Mwanri 🇹🇿 Tanzania
kwa insha yake juu ya methali
➜“Akiba haiozi

🥉 Mshindi wa nafasi ya tatu:
Magreth Lazaro Mafie 🇹🇿 Tanzania
kwa insha yake juu ya methali
➜“Mchumia juani hulia kivulini

Pongezi kwa wote walioshiriki!

   Washindi hawa watatu wameshapokea zawadi zao, na wandishi wote walipewa vyeti vya kutambua michango yao. (Kama haujapokea cheti chako, tafadhali wasiliana nasi.)
   Shindano hili lilifanyika kwajili ya Siku ya Kiswahili Duniani (Maadhimisho ya Siku ya Saba Saba). Hili ndilo shindano la kwanza tulilofadhili mtandaoni. Tunaomba shauri zenu, toeni maoni hapo chini, lifanyike tena? Kutokana na mwitikio mkubwa wa watu katika nchi mbalimbali za Afrika Mashariki, tayari tunaanza kupanga.
   Kama ulikosa kuwashilisha insha yako, usikose kushiriki shindano lijalo. Jiunge nasi, thibitisha email yako na utajulishwa.
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Tunaomba msaada wako! 

Je unapenda kuandika? Unapenda Methali ya Siku? Maktaba.org tunasherehekea Siku ya Kiswahili Duniani kwa Shindano la Uandishaji wa Insha!

Wasilisha Insha ya Methali kabla ya 7/7

Wasilisha insha yako juu ya methali yoyote hapa au kwa baruapepe tuzo@maktaba.org leo ujipatie nafasi ya kushinda zawadi ya pesa!
  1. Mshindi wa kwanza 50,000/= TSh
  2. Mshindi wa pili25,000/= TSh
  3. Mshindi wa pili12,500/= TShl

Vigezo & Masharti ya Shindano

Washindi watachaguliwa na watumiaji wa Maktaba.org! Insha tatu zitakayopata "likes" ❤️ nyingi zaidi kabla ya trh 15 July watashinda. Mtu yeyeote anaweza kupiga kura akiingia akaunti ya yake ya Maktaba.org (Kama haujafunguliwa akaunti yako, jiunge leo, bila malipo yoyote!) 

Hatua ya 1: Chagua methali. Methali inaweza kuwa kwa lugha yoyote, lakini sharti iwe methali inayojulikana na watu, yaani usitunge mwenyewe. Unaweza kutafuta katika vitabu vyetu vya methali hapa!

Hatua ya 2: Tunga insha inayoeleza maana ya methali kwa maoni yako.

Masharti (lazima)
  1. Lugha: Insha iwe kwa Kiswahili ama kwa Kiingereza.
  2. Urefu: Idadi ya maneno ya insha iwe kati ya 80 na 1000 (ndefu kuliko aya, ila isizidi kurasa. Piga chapa kwa kompyuta au simu.
  3. Hakimiliki: Insha yako itasambazwa chini ya leseni ya Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), inayosema, kwa kifupi, inaruhusiwa kunakili, kubadilisha, kutafsiri na kuchapisha kazi yako bila idhini, kama utatajwa kama mtungaji.  

Ushauri (hiari)
Haya ni mawazo kwa muundo wa insha yako:
  • Chimbuko: Eleza chimbuko la methali kama inajulikana. Taja vyanzo vya taarifa.
  • Matumizi na mifano: Methali hutumika vipi na nyakati gani? Taja mifano.
  • Bunilizi: Tunga shairi au simulia hadithi fupi iniayohusiana na maana ya methali.
  • Uzoefu binafsi: Simulia hadithi kutoka kwa maisha yako / uzoefu wako mwenyewe.
  • Utekelezaji: Toa shauri kwa wasomaji jinsi ya kutekeleza methali katika maisha yao ya kila siku.
  • Simulizi ya kweli: Shiriki hadithi kutoka sayansi, historia, ngano/kisa, dini, au fashihi. Taja vyanzo halisi.
  • Methali zinazohusiana: Find similar proverbs from around the world.
  • Methali zinazopingana: Je kuna methali ambazo zinatofautiana na methali hii?
  • Majadiliano: Uliza maswali yanayowaalika wasomaji kutafakari na kushiriki mawazo yao / uzoefu wao.
  • Picha/Mchoro: Chora, piga, au tafuta picha inayoeleza maana ya methali na ambatanisha katika insha yako.
Hayo ni mawazo tu, ili kukuhamasisha. Pia unaweza kusoma mifano kwenye Methali za Siku. Tunatarajia kuona ubunifu wako!

Hatua ya 3 : Pakia (upload) insha yako hapa
Tarehe ya mwisho: 7 Julai 2023 (Saba Saba)
Jaza fomu: https://forms.gle/2VgUtNPMBLETjbCx5
AMA unaweza kuwasilisha insha yako kwa baruapepe. Tuma kwa tuzo@maktaba.org. Usisahau kutuambia taarifa zako za malipo ili tuweze kukutumia zawadi ya pesa ukishinda shindano!

Wasilisha insha hapa kabla ya 7/7/23


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Marejeleo

Wasilisha Insha ya Methali hapa ama kwa tuzo@maktaba.org

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Vitabu vya Dini
Vitabu juu ya Ukristo
Vitabu juu ya Uislamu

Kwa watu wengi, kitabu wanachokipenda zaidi ni kitabu takatifu, kama Biblia au Korani. Kwa nini tunapenda kusoma vitabu hivi kuliko vitabu vingine? 
  • - Vitabu Takatifu vinahusiana na mambo muhimu ya maisha.
  • - Vitabu Takatifu vinatupa busara na fadhili kama ujasiri, unyenyekevu, na imani.
  • - Vitabu Takatifu vina hadithi za kusisimua kuhusu manabii na mashujaa. 
Mimi nimesoma vitabu vingi takatifu kutoka dini tofauti kama vile Korani, Biblia, na vitabu takatifu vya Wahindi na Wachina. Nimetambua vina kanuni na hadithi zilezile; ni majina tu hubadilika.
Vitabu vya shule vina maswali mengi, na majibu sahihi yapo katika sehemu ya mwisho, au katika Kitabu cha Mwalimu. Ila kwa vitabu takatifu, hakuna majibu ya hakika. Wasomi na walimu wa dini bado hawakubaliani kabisa maana ya kitabu. Wanatumia elimu walionayo kujadili na wanahojiana juu ya aya muhimu. 
Kama unaamini kitabu fulani kilitoka Mungu, usimwamini mtu yeyote kukuambia kinasema nini-- Jisomee mwenyewe!
Kwa watu wengi, wakati huu ni msimu wa kutafakari dini zao, kwa sababu ya Ramadhan na Kwaresma.  Chukue nafasi hii kujielimisha kidini. 


For many people, their favorite book is a Holy Book, like the Bible or Quran. Why do we like to read these books more than others?
  • - Holy books are about the important things in life.
  • - Holy books give us wisdom, courage, humility and faith.
  • - Holy books have exciting stories about prophets and heroes. 
I've read a lot of books from different religions like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Confucianism. I recognized the same principles and stories-- it's just the names that change. School textbooks have many questions and the correct answers are in the last section, or in the Teacher's Book. But for Holy Books, there are no certain answers. The scholars and teachers of religion still don't completely agree on the meaning of the book. They use their education to discuss and argue about important verses.
If you believe that a certain book came from God, don't trust any person to tell you what it says-- Read it for yourself!  
For many people, this is a season to meditate on religion because of Ramadan and Lent. Take this chance to educate yourself.
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Thank you for donating 6 books
These books are on their way to new readers at Elimu Yetu Library. Follow their journey by viewing the book profiles on Maktaba.org:
  1. Tunnel 29
  2. Mystery of the Tolling Bell
  3. Nancy Drew 24: the Clue in the Old Album
  4. Number the Stars
  5. Nancy Drew 27: the Secret of the Wooden Lady
  6. The Mystery on the Mississippi
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Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play a crucial role in promoting social, economic, and environmental sustainability throughout the world, and of course in East Africa (an area of focus for Maktaba.org).

Through a collection of resources for social entrepreneurs and non-profits, we are publishing advice, ideas and stories about our journey to develop a non-profit that delivers free educational resources both digitally and in-person.

NGOs (like Maktaba.org) need a clear and concise plan, as well as a motivated and aligned team. One way to achieve this is by using SMART goals.

Below is an example a hypothetical East African NGO using SMART goals to empower their team.

SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. The following are the five elements of SMART goals and how they can help align your NGO team:

  1. Specific: A specific goal has a clear and precise definition. It answers the questions "What", "Why", and "How". For example, instead of saying "We want to improve education", a specific goal would be "We want to provide educational materials to 100 underprivileged schools in rural areas in the next 6 months."
  2. Measurable: A measurable goal has quantifiable outcomes that can be tracked and monitored. This helps ensure that the goal is realistic and attainable. For example, "We want to provide educational materials to 100 underprivileged schools in rural areas in the next 6 months," which can be measured by the number of schools reached and the number of materials distributed.
  3. Achievable: An achievable goal is one that is attainable with the resources and capabilities of the NGO. To set goals that are achievable, your organization will need to plan carefully, work together and pull together resources in a timely matter. For example, the goal of providing educational materials to 100 underprivileged schools in rural areas may only be "achievable" if the NGO believes they have the local partners in place, secure funding and a clear logistical plan to deliver or "achieve" their goal. Setting achievable goals requires introspection.
  4. Relevant: A relevant goal is one that aligns with the organization's mission, values, and objectives. It is important that the goal is relevant to the organization and its stakeholders. In the example we've been using, the goal of providing educational materials to 100 underprivileged schools in rural areas is relevant to the NGO's general mission of promoting education in rural areas.
  5. Time-Bound: A time-bound goal has a specific deadline. This helps ensure that the goal is completed within a reasonable time frame and helps focus the team's efforts. For example, "We want to provide educational materials to 100 underprivileged schools in rural areas in the next 6 months," has a clear deadline upon which the goal should be complete.

By setting SMART goals, our fictional East African NGO can align its team by providing a clear and concise gameplan that is relevant to its mission, values, and objectives. The team can work together to achieve the goals by monitoring progress, adjusting strategies, and celebrating successes.

In conclusion, SMART goals are a powerful tool for aligning any team whether we are talking about an NGO, a small business, a non-profit or a giant corporation. By setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals, your team will stay focused and motivated on their path toward success. There are some critiques of those who use SMART goals, but in general they are a widely relied upon technique used by many of the most successful organizations.

Are you actually an East African NGO? Consider checking out our free PDFs to research the history of Africa or browse free Swahili books or download PDFs in English.
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Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises need to clearly define their organizational goals


We are often asked how we got started with Maktaba and other non-profit initiatives. Step 1 is to define a mission and clear goals for the organization. Much of our efforts are a work in progress...but these are some of the recommended steps for setting the direction of a non-profit.

  1. Determine your mission and values: Start by defining your organization's mission and core values, which will provide a clear direction for all decision-making and goal-setting.
  2. Identify your target audience: Understand who your target audience is and what their needs and pain points are. This will help you to better align your goals with the needs of your target audience.
  3. Conduct a SWOT analysis: Conduct a SWOT analysis to identify your organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, which will help you to better understand your current situation and potential for growth.
  4. Define SMART goals: Use the SMART framework to define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals that align with your mission and values.
  5. Set both short-term and long-term goals: Set both short-term and long-term goals to provide a clear roadmap for your organization's growth and development.
  6. Involve stakeholders: Involve key stakeholders in the goal-setting process, including employees, partners, and customers, to ensure that all goals are aligned and everyone is working towards the same objectives.
  7. Regularly review and adjust goals: Regularly review and adjust your goals as needed to ensure that they remain relevant and aligned with your mission and values.

By following these steps, a social enterprise can increase the team's focus and drive impact...feel free to reach out or comment if you have any questions or suggestions.

Also, as always, check out our free resources on Entrepreneurship or Social Entrepreneurship. We have dozens of free books available on these topics in both English and Swahili. Most books can be downloaded without creating an account!



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