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Four in a row [2018-10-07]

Almost from the moment Neal and I got home from the 2017 Tanzania trip, Reneal’s Tanzania team has been planning for this year’s work.  With the help of many generous donors, Reneal gathered 115 laptop computers to bring to the schools here.  Neal built four new servers, and we worked with our trusted vendors in Arusha to reserve the equipment we purchase here.  David scouted for candidates for new computer labs, and he guided them carefully in preparing the computer room with tables, chairs, electrical outlets, and security features.  With the help of Reneal Board members Sharon Fingold and Katherine Yen and their husbands, we transported 18 boxes of computer equipment from California to Arusha.  With tremendous support from our partners at Habari Node and Arusha Node Marie, the equipment has been installed.  After all of the hard work and angst of the past year, it’s so thrilling to look back and see four new secondary schools with computer labs in Arusha District!

This last week we installed a lab at Oldonyosambu Secondary School.  We had a few electricity outages but managed to get the installation completed plus have time for training of the computer teachers – the new Super Users!  The Habari Node team came on Tuesday and again did a fabulous job of cabling the system.  When they finished that, they helped us set up the rest of the computers.  By the end of the day, everything was in place!

We also visited Mwandet Secondary School on Monday.  Neal delivered the updated server and we added a small network switch to their system.  We also had a chance to meet with five of the six Reneal scholars.  It was a really a fun time talking with them, and we hope that we’ll be present for their graduation next year.

Friday the Reneal team visited the Arusha office of Asante Africa, a very active NGO in Tanzania and Kenya.  We had a productive meeting sharing ideas and brainstorming possibilities for collaboration.  We look forward to continuing our discussions going forward!

Yesterday we spent the afternoon with Reneal School Liaison David Nyangaka, preparing for the Reneal Super Users meeting scheduled for Saturday.  We always look forward to this chance to be together with the entire group of computer teachers to share information and discuss challenges and opportunities.  We are also planning a meeting with all of the school heads this year, to share with them some of the features of the system and expectations for the schools.

Meanwhile, Neal is updating the last of the servers from the existing Reneal schools.  We still have four servers in our room at Lutheran Centre, three of which we’ll deliver this coming week.  Reneal computer technician Robert Nyangaka, Evance Kessy from Arusha Node Marie, and Ramadhani Mfinanga from the Arusha District office will head to Mlangarini Secondary School on Tuesday to replace the cabling (done back in 2013).  So, as the clock ticks toward our departure, the work intensifies!

 [Photos: The Habari Node and Arusha Node Marie teams cabling the new computer lab at Oldonyosambu Secondary School]