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With Reneal Team Tanzania [2026-10-04]

I just returned Wednesday from the annual trip to Tanzania. It was wonderful to be with Reneal Team Tanzania and Reneal’s partners in Arusha. It’s a chance to learn from each other and join together to improve our work. In particular, Reneal Team Tanzania has done a great job this past year of systematizing the maintenance process. This is a key tool for Reneal’s sustainability. From planning replacements to identifying needed tools to working side-by-side on repairs, it was productive – and fun! I also had several meetings with our partners, including Arusha Node Marie and Terrawatu. I finished the trip by visiting the supportive officials of Arusha Region.

Hello again from Reneal [2026-06-02]

Well, I definitely got behind on blogging! The 2025 Phase 2 computer labs are installed, training is done, and we have eight new schools in the Reneal family. And here we are now, well into preparations for the 2026 Phase 1 projects! I am also excited to report that our partner in Tanzania, Arusha Node Marie, has been installing new computer labs with a Reneal server in schools. The ANM and Reneal Teams have worked together since 2014, and it is great to be entering a new phase of collaboration.

Phase 2 Progress [2026-01-22]

The 2025 Phase 2 boxes got picked up here at Reneal’s headquarters in the US on December 29th, and David received them on January 5th at Kilimanjaro International Airport. What a great way to start the year!  Overall, it was a very smooth operation. Many thanks to Tina at Sky2C shipping, Terri at Apto Solutions, Kennedy and Glory at Bureau Veritas, our local suppliers in Arusha, and of course David Nyangaka, Reneal’s Country Director, for their support, preparation, and hard work. Six of the eight new computer labs are already completed, thanks to Reneal Team Tanzania’s organization and installation efforts! Training for the teachers will follow soon.

Phase 2 Update [2025-12-17]

I’m a bit behind in updating the blog again. In late October, our generous donor Apto Solutions provided Reneal with the first batch of laptops for the 2025 Phase 2 projects. We are planning computer labs at eight new schools, as well as replenishing the stock of spares at the Reneal warehouse to serve as replacement units. I am hoping to have the boxes ready for pickup before the New Year. Then Reneal Team Tanzania will do their magic in installing the labs and training the teachers. It will be exciting to add these new schools to the Reneal family!

On to 2025 Phase 2 [2025-10-04]

Well, it was another great trip to Tanzania. It is always such a joy to be with Reneal Country Director David Nyangaka and Reneal Team Tanzania! I also had a chance to meet with several of Reneal’s partners while in-country. Lots of follow-up work to do, but it’s truly astonishing to see Reneal’s mission being realized across Tanzania with over 120 government secondary schools now benefitting from Reneal computer labs. And we’re on the brink of kicking off the 2025 Phase 2 projects, which will result in 8 additional beneficiary schools. We are so grateful to our donor Apto Solutions for their amazing support these past five years!

Tanzania Trip 2025 [2025-08-31]

Thanks to the hard work of Reneal Country Director David Nyangaka, the 2025 Phase 1 shipment was received by Reneal Team Tanzania and installation/training activities have begun. The other news is that I am bound for Tanzania on Tuesday. It will be a schedule similar to last year’s, with most of the time spent in Arusha working with Reneal Team Tanzania. It will be my first opportunity to spend time in Reneal’s Tanzania office. We are so grateful to JR Institute of Information Technology for hosting Reneal.

2025 progress [2025-07-05]

Reneal is so grateful for the continued support of Apto Solutions in 2025. 29 boxes of equipment are sitting here, ready for shipment to Tanzania for the 2025 Phase 1 projects. Ten additional public high schools in Tanzania will be receiving a computer lab, thanks to Apto Solutions!

Carrying on [2025-03-02]

Some blog readers may have already heard that Reneal co-founder Neal Bierbaum died unexpectedly on December 19th. Neal was happy, healthy, and busy developing new software capabilities for the Reneal system at the time of his death. He spent the last 19 years of his life working tirelessly for students and teachers in the Philippines and Tanzania to bring them computers and technology. The loss is irreplaceable and unfathomable, yet Reneal will carry on his legacy.

2024 Phase 2 [2024-11-06]

Very quickly after our return from Tanzania, we began preparation for the 2024 Phase 2 projects. In Phase 2, Reneal is planning to install computer labs at 11 additional government secondary schools plus 22 Teacher-in-a-Box educational material hot spots. Our generous partner, Apto Solutions (www.aptosolutions.com), delivered a large fraction of the laptops in mid-October. While the quality of the donated hardware is always high, this is an exceptionally pristine batch of laptops! There are about 10 different models of Dell laptops, which historically have been very robust. Reneal Country Director David Nyangaka is guiding the recipient schools, located in Mbeya, Iringa, Dodoma, Arusha, and Kilimanjaro Regions.

Tanzania! [2024-10-05]

It’s hard to believe, but our 2024 trip to Tanzania is already in the rear-view mirror. As usual, it was a busy time and plans shifted as we encountered unexpected opportunities and challenges. Overall, we were pleased with how things unfolded, and it was great to be with Reneal Team Tanzania for a few short weeks. We also got to meet up with old and new partners. Now we’re back home with some exciting tasks ahead of us.

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