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Reneal IEO: How it all started [2013-03-02]

We will never forget the day in March of 2006 that we began new lives in the Philippines as U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers.  We were assigned to a public high school in Compostela, Cebu, working with the principal and teachers there to expand the use of information technology (IT) in the school.  Neal developed a low-cost computer infrastructure, and with the help of donors, he led the installation of 80 new computers at the school.  Rene did teacher trainings, helped teachers find material on the internet, and developed administrative tools for the teachers.  We had the time of our lives, and we came to the realization that this could in fact be a new beginning.

Even though our Peace Corps service ended in December of 2008, Neal continued working as a full-time volunteer doing IT-related projects for the Philippines.  The two of us have made annual visits to the Philippines to carry on our work, and in 2010 we expanded our efforts to Tanzania, Africa.  In April of 2012, we incorporated as Reneal International Education Outreach (RIEO), and in September we finally attained official tax-exempt status as a non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity.

Here is a description of the RIEO mission:
The paradox in many developing countries is that education is the path to improve lives, but schools are underfunded and many young people can’t afford to attend. The specific purpose of Reneal International Education Outreach (RIEO) is to provide support for students, their parents, teachers, and school administrators to enhance education opportunities in schools in developing countries. Recognizing the power of technology in particular to change lives, the primary focus of this corporation is to provide Information Technology expertise and assets (computer hardware, computer software, and learning resources) to these schools.

Most of our effort is focused on sharing the low-cost computer infrastructure with schools in the Philippines and Tanzania, although we also work to provide scholarships and educational materials to schools, and Neal has developed a student information database for Philippine schools. We will return to the Philippines in March of 2013 and expect to get to Tanzania later that summer.  Neal’s 2012 site evaluations in Tanzania yielded three promising candidate schools for IT labs.
We are always seeking corporate donations of used laptops for our projects, as well as any monetary contributions.  If you are interested or have a possible lead, please check out our "How to Help" page for details about what is needed.