Blog

Making the rounds in Arusha [2020-02-05]

It’s been very busy here in Arusha for Reneal Team Tanzania.  We’ve (mostly) finished the MacBook workstation lab upgrade at Mlangarini Secondary School, and the second one at Enyoito Secondary School is pretty far along.  In the meantime, our team has visited six additional existing labs for repairs and assistance in beginning-of-the-school-year tasks.  We are also thrilled to report that internet was installed last Friday at Mlangarini Secondary School by our partners Arusha Node Marie and Habari Node.  Another highlight last week was meeting with the first batch of Reneal Scholars who received their completion certificates from Form 4 just last October.

Arusha! [2020-01-25]

I am so grateful to report that our trip to Arusha went smoothly, and we are already deep in the midst of work.  The Reneal Team visited three schools this week, working on a total of five Reneal computer labs.  We also met with the Form 3 (grade 9) Reneal Scholars at Mwandet Secondary School.  The highlight of the week though was beginning the installation of a major upgrade at Mlangarini Secondary School, replacing the existing thin clients with MacBook workstations generously donated by VMware. 

Coding, loading, and goading [2020-01-07]

Not too much new to report since the last blog post.  The Reneal Team continues to prepare for the 2020 work in Arusha: Neal is immersed in software development, I’m packing boxes of equipment, and David is deep in his logistical magic helping the schools prepare and working custom issues.  But we’re all several steps closer to completion, and it’s looking good for a fast start once Neal and I arrive in Arusha.  We are very grateful for David’s efforts on behalf of Reneal.

Looking back and ahead [2019-12-28]

In a massive blast of activity this past month, Neal has just about completed all of the software development needed for the new MacBook workstation system.  Although I’m surely biased, I will say that it is a beautifully integrated, robust set of capabilities that will make the MacBook lab operation, maintenance, and updating easy.  It was touch and go, but it’s looking like we’ll be ready for full deployment of the MacBook workstation labs when we head to Tanzania next month! 

2020 plans [2019-12-08]

Since the last blog post, the Reneal Board of Directors held their semi-annual meeting.  Neal and I are extremely grateful for their guidance, support, and advice!  The Board has approved the 2020 work plan for Tanzania, which commences in a few short weeks.  The Board also approved continuation of Reneal’s scholarship programs in both Tanzania and the Philippines.  We are now full speed ahead in preparing for our next in-country projects.

MacBook immersion [2019-11-06]

Thanks to a generous donation from VMware, Reneal has been developing a new computer lab architecture based on MacBook workstations.  We got far enough along in this work to be able to deploy two pilot MacBook “mini-labs” during our 2019 visit to Tanzania.  These labs are for the exclusive use of advanced-level students at two of our existing schools.  We are looking forward to returning to Arusha in January 2020 for more MacBook deployments.  This development is exciting, challenging work, with the potential payoff of improved performance for the students using these MacBook-based systems.

A day in the life [2019-10-31]

One of the joys of working for Reneal is being a part of Teams in the Philippines and Tanzania that work together to support the students and teachers at the schools served by Reneal.  Thanks to Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, Neal and I have instant communication with Team members in both countries.  We strategize together, plan together, manage the flow of equipment together, and solve problems together.  We are so grateful for these dedicated partners that help Reneal achieve its mission!

Tanzania 2019 Wrap-up [2019-10-20]

Reneal’s 2019 projects in Tanzania, long planned and awaited, are now complete.  Below is a summary of our final report provided to Arusha District and Arusha Region.  Thanks so much to our generous donors and to our partners at the Arusha District Council, Arusha Regional Office, Habari Node, and Arusha Node Marie – we couldn’t have done it without you!  And of course a huge THANK YOU to our partners in the schools, the school heads and computer teachers who bring Reneal’s resources to the students.  Now we begin the planning for 2020!

Last few days [2019-10-12]

This last week was busy, traveling to five different schools.  We made visits to three of our 2018 computer lab installations: Kimnyaki Secondary School, Kiranyi Secondary School, and Sokon II Secondary School.  Thursday we were at Mringa Secondary School, one of our 2015 installations.  Friday found us back at Olturumet Secondary School to orient all teachers on their new Reneal system.  And Friday night was the annual Team Celebration with our partners from Habari Node and Arusha Node Marie.  It was a whirlwind, and we are so grateful to the schools and to Reneal School Liaison David Nyangaka for helping us get to each school.

Making the rounds [2019-10-07]

The 2019 installation work in Tanzania is now finished!  We still have teacher orientation to do at the last installation, Olturumet Secondary School, but otherwise we’re focused on completing visits to each of the existing schools.  Given the difficulty of getting to many of the schools, we allocate a day for each.  Neal makes updates to the server computer, and Robert, Evance, and I do repairs as needed on the client computers.  It’s a chance to meet with the Super Users to hear their questions, concerns, and successes.  It is always such a pleasure to reconnect with our Super User colleagues!

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