Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Fortuitous Fortune

The other day I was waiting at Cafe La Fortuna for the Swahili Meetup (www.meetup.com) members to arrive so we could practice Swahili and swap stories of East Africa. In walked a man who noticed my Swahili dictionary and Tanzania guide book so I asked if he was here for the Swahili Meetup. He wasn't, but we engaged in conversation -- he had been to Uganda -- and when the other Meetup members did arrive we included him in our Meetup conversation. He asked for some information via email about Powering Potential which I sent him. I had made it clear that Powering Potential is not a 501 (c) 3 organization. Today we received a check from him for $1,000 !!!

Cafe La Fortuna is truly fortuitous!

And another Patron was talking about Powering Potential to her friend and she donated a laptop and a check to Banjika!

The vision of young people in Tanzania using computers to enhance their education and improve economic opportunities after school is being realized...thanks to all of the Powering Potential Patrons.

Wisdom, Peace and Love,
(Tanzanian National Anthem)

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Powering Potential

Well, I just set up the Powering Potential blog with the help of Anand Sethupathy. Thanks Anand!

My friend Steve Newman is hosting a private fundraiser for Powering Potential on Sept. 27. Thanks Steve!

The school needs electricity before I can bring more computers. So I'm saving and raising money for a solar energy system.

For those of you who are just now coming into this story. Powering Potential is a project started by Janice Lathen to enhance educational experiences for students in Karatu, Tanzania, specifically at the Banjika Secondary School. As of Sept. 14 with the help of 59 Patrons, Powering Potential has provided two laptops (with long-life batteries), 14 bicycles, and 2 hours time at an Internet cafe for each teacher and 1 hours time for each Form 3 student. Fifty Banjika students walk from 7 to 11 miles a day to attend school. Form 3 is equivalent to the US 10th grade and is currently the highest grade level at Banjika.