Odds and ends [2019-05-21]

The summer break in the Philippines is about to end, and it’s nearing the mid-term break in Tanzania.  Here at Reneal headquarters, Neal and I enjoyed a recent break ourselves to visit family and friends.  Now we’re back to work, with the main focus being Tanzania preparation.  It’s almost exactly three months to departure, so the excitement is growing.

Reneal’s Tanzania School Liaison David Nyangaka was in the capital city of Dodoma last week submitting our tax exemption paperwork to the Tanzania Revenue Authority.  We have been so grateful for David’s hard work and for the support of the Arusha District Council and Arusha Regional Office in seeking the exemption.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that the exemption is approved.  As a small NGO with limited financial resources, this is a big deal to us!

I am in the process of acquiring and testing laptop adapters for the units we got from Renew Computers.  That has gone well, and we now have most of what we need ready for packing and shipping.  We are still looking for about 45 laptops though, to achieve our goal of 120.  Leads for donations are most welcomed!  David has identified the four new recipient schools, and they are preparing for installation.  This is a major commitment for schools, since they are responsible for providing a classroom, tables and chairs for the computers, electrical outlets, and security. 

Once school gets started in Cebu, Reneal Team Philippines will begin to visit the schools there to help create the student list for the new school year and to make repairs.  A big CONGRATULATIONS goes to Ervin Formentera, our OJT student, who graduated on May 15^th from Cebu Technological University in Danao City!  Ervin will be joining Reneal now as a computer technician.  We are so grateful to have Ervin, fellow technician Rhog Sampan, and team lead Lloyd Tuñacao working with us to support the schools in Cebu.

On the scholarship front, the UCSAP committee in the Philippines will be working to identify new candidates following the graduation of six of our scholars in April.  In Tanzania, David is following up with the twelve boarding scholars as the first term ends.  We are so grateful to the UCSAP committee and David for making the Reneal scholarships possible!

 [Photo: Testing newly acquired adapters for the laptops from Renew Computers heading to Tanzania high schools]