Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Letter from Board Member Rich Segal

Dear Patrons,
My name is Richard Segal. I am a member of the Powering Potential Advisory Board as well as a Board member of the Segal Family Foundation, a strong supporter of Powering Potential’s Educating-Through-Technology program since its inception.

My wife Joanna and I made our first trip to Tanzania this past summer. I wanted to see firsthand the positive impact Powering Potential was making as well as to learn what more could be done to achieve our goal of improving rural education using technology. What an experience! With Janice as our guide, the impact of Powering Potential’s work was evident in the two secondary schools we visited and with the many students, teachers, heads of schools, and government officials we met. Photos of our trip.

We had many memorable moments. A headmaster told us about the parents in his local community organizing to build a new classroom to house a Powering Potential computer lab. Students were seen studying Khan Academy instructional videos hours after their school day had finished. Several former students of Powering Potential programs sought Janice out to thank her for giving them the opportunity to learn the computer skills they needed to get their current jobs. Powering Potential is engaging communities, improving education, and creating better employment opportunities for its graduates. This is what it is all about!


We participated in a workshop with the heads of schools and computer teachers from all six Powering Potential schools. The value the schools place on the Powering Potential computer labs was evident in the lively discussion. We learned how the schools use their computers and what more we can do to maximize their usefulness. As the result of these conversations, we are now increasing our efforts to train all the school teachers (not just the computer teachers) in order to leverage the computer labs in more subject areas. Additionally, we plan to raise funds to add a projector to each lab to make hands-on-learning demonstrations more effective.

It was a pleasure to meet the Powering Potential staff headquartered in Karatu. Albin, Elibariki, and Happy are dedicated employees who truly appreciate the value of Powering Potential as they themselves are beneficiaries of Powering Potential’s program. 


They are passionate about giving the same opportunities to the students served by Powering Potential, and it shows in the quality of their work.

It has been an excellent year for Powering Potential with Phase 2 of our Educating-Through-Technology program being implemented in two schools which serve over 1,200 teachers and students. Installation costs have been significantly reduced by having most of the technology-installation work performed by the Karatu staff.

We launched our 3 in 30 campaign with the goal of providing computer labs in 3 schools in each of the 30 regions of Tanzania. This ambitious project will need your help to complete. Every dollar you contribute will help improve the educational and employment opportunities of young Tanzanians. 

To donate online, click here.
To donate by check, please make payable to ICSEE-Powering Potential and mail to:

Powering Potential
PO Box 230913
New York, NY 10023

Note: ICSEE (International Collaborative for Science, Education and the Environment) TIN: 22-3158263 is a 501(c)3 non-profit public charity and serves as fiscal sponsor for Powering Potential. Donations to ICSEE-Powering Potential are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

With best wishes for the holiday season and New Year,

Richard Segal, Ph. D.
Powering Potential Advisory Board

Friday, December 13, 2013

Meeting at UN with the TZ Commission for Science and Technology

The TZ Mission to the UN arranged a meeting with Dr. Hassan Mshinda, Director General of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology, V. Ena Haines, Director of Information Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University and Janice Lathen of Powering Potential. The meeting was held at the United Nations on Dec. 11. It was a very productive and fruitful meeting and we were invited to meet with him again next month when we are in Tanzania.


Dr. Hassan Mshinda with Powering Potential's Janice Lathen


Dr. Hassan Mshinda with V. Ena Haines

The United Nations Women's Guild Holiday Luncheon

Powering Potential's Founding Executive Director, Janice Lathen, attended the United Nations Women's Guild - Manhattan Group holiday luncheon at the Porter House Restaurant in the Time Warner building on Dec. 10. 


The UN Women's Guild is a group of dynamic, committed ladies from around the world, several of whom are PhDs.



Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Presentation at the Society for Ethical Culture

On December 8th, Powering Potential Founder Janice Lathen gave a presentation to the Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture


Formed in 1948, the Society for Ethical Culture is an extension of the Ethical Movement set in motion by Felix Adler in 1876. This event was coordinated leader Jim White and came about at the suggestion of David Kornbluh and Francine Scherer. 



After a thirty minute talk, Powering Potential held a Q&A session. It was well received. We are thankful for the opportunity to share our cause. 

The New York TZ Community Independence Day Celebration


Ambassador Manongi makes three cuts to the cake,
indicating love, freedom and unity.
On December 7th, Powering Potential Founder Janice Lathen attended the  NY-TZ Community Uhuru Independence Day Celebration in New York. 

Among those attending: the Tanzanian Ambassador to the United Nations Tuvako Manongi, Deputy Ambassador Ramadhan Mwinyi and the Ambassador from Somalia along with his wife.

A presentation was given regarding the preservation of historical buildings in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 

The audience also heard a brief talk from the Somalian Ambassador's wife , who is from Zanzibar, about her experiences being in Tanzania on Independence Day. Guests enjoyed a fashion show, music, dancing, and a delicious buffet dinner. 


Guests enjoying the menu 
and social aspects of the event.


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

#GivingTuesday


Today is #GivingTuesday. It is a movement dedicated towards both fundraising and raising awareness for humanitarian efforts on the first Tuesday following Thanksgiving. Powering Potential could use your support today in the following ways:

Donate:

If you are able to make a financial contribution, visit the donation page of our website:

Follow us on Twitter and Like Us on Facebook:


Spread the Word:

Help us spread the word about Powering Potential by posting the following message (or your adaption of it) on Facebook and Twitter:

"Help a child in #Tanzania learn about #technology by supporting @PwringPotential on #GivingTuesday. Visit Poweringpotential.org to donate today!"

Thank you for your continued support!

- The Powering Potential Team