User:JaniceLathen/sandbox

Powering Potential is a nonprofit organization that installs solar energy systems, supplies schools with cutting-edge computers, trains students and teachers and trains trainers. In addition to producing a tech-savvy workforce for this emerging country, computer education is a very efficient way to deal with Africa’s “book famine.” Educational content is installed on the schools’ networks – science, math, history, languages.

Powering Potential started in 2006, when a technology teacher visited a rural school, as part of a safari tour. Janice Lathen, a New Yorker, was captivated by the young people’s intelligence, enthusiasm and work ethic. She returned a year later with one laptop and two batteries. The pilot school, Banjika, now has a 20-computer lab powered by solar energy. A computer teacher has been assigned by the District.

Students trained as trainers. In Banjika’s lab, 23 high school graduates were given five months of intensive training. Three Train-the-Trainer graduates now have jobs teaching technology. In this way, the most proficient students can plant seeds of technology throughout the school system.

As of March 2012, three schools have been equipped with solar power and 31 computers. Over 1,400 hours of training have been delivered and 800+ teachers and students have had their first exposure to a computer. The next three schools will be equipped in October 2012.

The U.S. State Department has given financial support to this work and Tanzania’s ambassador to the U.S. made Lathen part of a visiting group of American entrepreneurs, who went to evaluate Tanzania as a place to establish business. Tanzania’s Ministry of Education has asked Lathen to join a work group to explore the most efficient use of technology as an educational tool. She has also been asked to install a demonstration computer lab at the Ministry.

Ongoing progress and details of Lathen’s background can be seen on Powering Potential’s website. Reaction from students and scenes of solar energy installation are available in You Tube videos,. Comments may be entered on the Facebook page. Donations to Powering Potential are tax-deductible because of the 501(c)(3) status of its fiscal sponsor, International Collaborative for Science, Education and the Environment (ICSEE).