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The Inception of the Bwiru Internet Cafe
Frank Mitchell
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Dar '05 arrived a little later for me than the rest of the TEAAers who had a smashing visit to good old Tanzania last July. But as my old school, Bwiru Boys' Secondary School near Mwanza, was on holiday then, unlike many other schools, I postponed my visit. Without the benefit of having the travel team of TEAA make so many of the arrangements, not the least of which was meeting the President of Tanzania, I was my own travel agent. Thank Heavens I was in snail mail and email contact with Phillip Mussa who had been in my Form IV Chemistry class in 1962. Phillip had actually gone on for a Masters in Chemistry and later became Headmaster of Bwiru, now semi-RETIRED!! Phillip successfully got my Air Tanzania return reservations from Dar to Mwanza and my hotel reservations at the New Mwanza Hotel. Remembering the many happy hours spent sucking down Tusker after Tusker at its precursor, the Mwanza Hotel in the 60's, I really wanted to stay there, never mind the total remodeling of the place. The plentiful pawpaws at their English breakfast took me back. While I also had contact with the current H/M, I believe I would not enjoyed the big reception committee without Phillip to impress on them that I was real and coming for sure. So it was that my week in Mwanza and Bwiru started on September 2nd with a joyous ride in a windshield-cracked dala-dala from the airport to the hotel accompanied by four teachers, Phillip and a couple of spouses. So many people walking and riding rickety bikes along the road all the way to town. I made the mistake of bringing with me 4 laptops, a printer, tons of software and an assortment of cables and peripherals to give the school and to Phillip in compliance with their request starting as early as a 1997 letter to me asking for computers. I say "mistake" because laptops can be stolen more easily, and in fact cost more than buying desktops locally. All that crushing weight which was actually far in excess of airline maximums had me worried about getting hit with crushing overage charges, not to mention aggravating my back. But thank Intelligent designer, I did deliver them safely. Actually two of the laptops did get stolen the week after I left TZ. However, after they emailed me a scanned police report and a description of their security, I bought them two replacement desktops from Ideal Computers in Mwanza. I doubt if I could have even done that had I not met people at Ideal Computers and purchased a computer from them while I was there. Over and over again I got the impression that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to conduct business, even BUYING things or making reservations, if you are not actually there or have a trusted friend or agent there to do it for you. What I did not tell them until shortly before arriving was that I was also planning to offer to set up an Internet connection for the school and pay for it for at least a year IF they wanted it. Before I offered this, I found one company that was not TOO expensive ($2000 to set up wireless antenna and all + $300 per month year contract). The rest were all MORE expensive because they were satellite Internet connections neither Dialup--regular or DSL-- nor cable was feasible at Bwiru. Once I found this one company (Auvionics http://www.mwanza-online.com), I made the offer and the Headmaster, teachers, and students loved it. I was extremely happy that week setting up the computers and the Internet. I should have stayed another week to go through everything with the students and staff and install various programs like antivirus and web cam, etc., but at least the Internet just got connected the day I left. The H/M introduced me to the staff and students in separate meetings, which were great. They took me out to dinner and to the Sukuma museum, and I had dinner in the Mussa home with his whole family. This was marvelous. This was everything I wanted for this "dream trip." Since I have returned home, the experience has taken on a life of its own. I have had much contact with fine folks at TEAA, admittedly stimulated by my desire to get help with funding for the second year of Internet access at Bwiru. I sent a far-too-long DVD of my visit to Mwanza to TEAA and all those TEAAers who worked in Mwanza or Bwiru in the '60s, thanks to address information from TEAA. The only DVD that came back was one sent to Bob Amos. Perhaps he has a new address As a result of that DVD mailing, good old buddy Bruce Levin, fellow 1Ber at Bwiru and George and Etta Wilson from Scotland, who worked at Bwiru, then sent me most welcome and totally unexpected financial contributions as did Dean McHenry. I was most moved by this. Then, as I have told my friends here in Columbus, Ohio, about my trip and shared a much briefer DVD, several have insisted on supporting the Bwiru Internet bills for this year. They and others that I hardly know pitched in to help find textbooks for Bwiru's nearly empty library. I am in fact almost finished mailing little by little the 1500+ lbs. of books collected. Also since I have returned, I have exchanged a stream of emails and text messages from the Bwiru students and teachers. Expectedly most, but not all, of the messages are asking for help, but there are also just messages of friendship and thanks and getting to know each other. These are very enjoyable and gratifying. It's part of the payoff from the Internet. Most satisfying, I must say, is the apparent initial success of the Internet project. The school has put some of their meager resources behind it. Beyond hardening the computer room, they actually hired an onsite manager. Two or three teachers are spending considerable extra time on it. I don't know if they get released time or extra compensation, but I am guessing not. The big thing is that the "Mr. Frank Internet Cafe" is a big hit. It is well used and expanding. At this early juncture the Bwiru Internet is by no means fully integrated into the educational programs or administrative structure, much less a line item in the budget of the school. Feelers have been sent out to neighboring schools to share the benefit of the Internet cafe. With its increasing size and use, I think it will become integrated into many phases of the school and provide a demonstration project for similar projects in TZ. I'm sure it is a point of pride for the school and all of its constituents. Check out http://www.bwiru.net. Frank Mitchell (1B), 1378 Morning Ave, Columbus OH 43212, Fraaank@gmail.com |