Error message

  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementBase::execute($args = [], $options = []) should either be compatible with PDOStatement::execute(?array $params = null): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2244 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).

All systems “go” for Tanzania! [2013-05-11]

The Reneal IEO trip to Tanzania is coming up in August, with plans to install IT labs at three high schools that were selected following site evaluations in 2012.  Each of these IT labs is basically starting from scratch, so significant corporate energy has been expended over the last six months looking for computer hardware and considering how to get it from America to Tanzania.

We heard recently from Timothy Anderson, president of the World Computer Exchange (WCE).  WCE accepts donations of used computers, checks them out, loads content, and then ships them to organizations around the world at low cost.  During our Peace Corps days, we coordinated the purchase from WCE of a 40’ container of computers shared by Compostela National High School and the Cebu Provincial government.  Having been on the receiving end of that shipment, I can attest to at least some of the unexpected hurdles and complicated constraints placed on the dedicated folks at WCE!

In a wonderful stroke of luck, WCE has been putting together a shipment to Tanzania to support a project in Rulenge (see http://www.worldcomputerexchange.org/ecorps-tanzania-2013, which features a photo of Neal!)  Timothy asked if we would like to have some computers for Reneal IEO hitch a ride in the container headed to Rulenge, and he had a big stack of Pentium IIIs standing by.  We got the thumbs-up from our board of directors last Saturday, and yesterday we sent the “go” signal to Timothy after an intense session of googling the specifications of the machines to make sure they would be well-behaved thin clients.  As I write this, the container is being loaded and includes 30 computers and monitors for Reneal IEO that will outfit two of the high schools.  Neal and I will be carrying 12 donated laptops for the third school, as well as the servers, as baggage on our flights to Tanzania.

It was thrilling to send out e-mails this morning to inform the principals that we’ll be at their schools in August with the equipment needed to install their IT labs.  Collectively the three schools (Mukulat Secondary School and Mlangarini Secondary School in Arusha, and Paroma Secondary School in Musoma) serve almost 3000 students.  Of course there are almost certainly additional interesting challenges ahead, but this is an exciting and important step forward for Reneal IEO and our partner African Malaika.

While WCE offers excellent prices for computers and negotiates carefully for good shipping rates, it can’t be done for free.  To donate either funds or equipment for future projects in the Philippines and Tanzania, please see the Reneal IEO “How to Help” webpage at http://reneal.org/content/how-help.  And check out the WCE website for other great projects in which they are involved (www.worldcomputerexchange.org).