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  • 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).

Safari njema! [2020-09-18]

This day has been on the calendar for weeks now – it’s the day that we say “safari njema” (“have a good trip” in Swahili) to 18 boxes of computer equipment heading to Tanzania.  As I write this, we are waiting for the trucking company to arrive for the pickup.  The boxes will be palletized and trucked down to LA before boarding a flight to Doha, Qatar and then on to Kilimanjaro International.  While it’s disappointing to think of those boxes going without us, we are excited that Reneal’s expansion will continue in Arusha Region.

Of course it would be impossible to do this without Reneal Team Tanzania.  David Nyangaka, Reneal’s School Liaison in Arusha, has been dealing with the shipping paperwork on the receiving end.  He has also been working closely with the recipient schools so they are prepared for the installations.  In short, he’s been a blur of activity in recent weeks to ensure the success of these projects.  Reneal technicians Robert Nyangaka and Erick Mneney will lead the installation and training effort, working closely with our partners at Habari Node, who provide pro bono professional support for the lab wiring, and Arusha Node Marie, a local NGO supporting some of the schools with internet access.

Six public high schools are receiving complete Reneal labs, and a seventh public high school is receiving a Reneal server and network switch to run the Reneal software on existing desktop computers.  It will likely take several weeks to complete the installation and training work once the boxes arrive at the other end.  While the installation work itself only takes a day, the logistics of getting the work scheduled and getting people, boxes, and tools to the schools is always challenging.  And teacher training is a critical part of Reneal’s effort, so our Team will be very busy over the next couple of months.

We are so grateful to Immersion Corporation, Arm Corporation, and many individual donors for making this work possible.  Once these boxes are gone, our attention will turn once again to looking for used laptops for our next set of projects.  So many students in public high schools in Tanzania lack access to computers and technology.  Please contact us (contact.reneal@gmail.com) for more information on how you can help.

[Photo: boxes heading to Arusha]