Leica Geosystems AG supports the RDO in Tanzania with construction projects and training in various skilled trades.
The Rural Development Organization (RDO) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the sustainable development of rural areas in Tanzania. Their focus is on education, agriculture, drinking water supply, and renewable energy, with the aim of enabling the young population to independently sustain the region.
Leica Geosystems AG has been passionately committed to projects and educational initiatives in the four RDO training centers in Tanzania for many years. By providing innovative surveying technology, Leica Geosystems AG brings modern measurement solutions exactly where they can make a difference and thus actively contributes to the promotion of knowhow and technical progress.
In October and November 2024, an enthusiastic team from Austria, including a former Leica Geosystems AG employee and a retired physics teacher, travelled to Tanzania to take part in a Climate Change Response project. The aim was to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the areas of agriculture, waste management, construction, housing, cooking, energy production and mobility, while at the same time strengthening the necessary skills for a sustainable future.
Learning by doing
Surveying is an important part of training in the construction trades. All trainees in these professions receive comprehensive training in the use of modern surveying equipment, such as the Leica DISTO X3. This training initially takes place on the construction site, followed by additional theory lessons in a classroom.
The afternoon before our departure, twenty construction students were unexpectedly found standing outside the guest house. Some of them had been travelling for hours on foot or by bus. They just wanted to practice with the DISTO's again, especially with the newly discovered DISTO Plan app. The spontaneous training session was so much fun for everyone that it ended up lasting late into the night!
Bernhard Fritz - former employee of Leica Geosystems AG
Leveling technology brings water to the village
Another highlight was using the Leica Level for important irrigation projects in remote areas. With this levelling device, the students were able to determine the best location for a pump station – a crucial step in transporting water to higher storage tanks and then directing it to the village. This saves the villagers the hassle of carrying water from distant water sources and significantly improves their quality of life.
Dust from the muddy roads, additional pollution from slash-and-burn agriculture and months of rain that seems to seep into every crack - these conditions are truly extreme. Which is exactly why the robust Leica devices are so highly appreciated here.
Bernhard Fritz - former employee of Leica Geosystems AG
Sustainable agriculture meets precise measurement technology
The RDO combines sustainable agriculture with modern measurement technology. The cultivated areas are not only used for supplies, but also for practical training. Instead of monocultures such as wood and tea cultivation and slash-and-burn farming, it depends on environmentally friendly cultivation methods.
Modern measurement technology for sustainable infrastructure
In the construction of important buildings like orphanages, classrooms, and student accommodations, innovative solutions such as Rugby, Lino, and DISTO from Leica Geosystems AG are used. This helps create accurate and sustainable solutions.
At Leica Geosystems AG, we are proud to support this important project and encourage young people in Tanzania with professional measuring equipment to successfully complete more important infrastructure projects.
