We are very happy to be hosting a solar-electric research session with our colleagues from Malawi.

Robert Van Buskirk and his team of five Malawians are here now. They have brought their new technology based on using solar panel energy directly. It is for use in cooking and is also generating new ideas for lighting homes.

This exploration is especially challenging because of the large amount of energy required for cooking, coupled with the high cost of solar panels when used for high power.

The research, study, and construction work is taking place at Cypress Hill. ICSEE participants include the men and women who install the solar electric lighting systems in Maasai homes. Also included are members of our stove installation teams and women’s business groups.

Nearby Maasai homes are the hosts for trial application of the new technology that the workshop participants will build under the supervision of the Malawi visitors.

We are preparing to set up a PC Education Center at Cypress Hill.

There are many young people who need to repeat parts of the national exams to get the scores up to what they need to carry on with their life plans.

They can retake the exams, but first need help to prepare at “Private Candidate, ” or "PC" Education Centers. These Education Centers are a significant social need. The courses last nearly a year, and must cover what the students need to be more successful on their second try.

The site has yet to be inspected and certified by the Adult Education Department of the regional government.

First, we need more classroom space. And this takes resources. This is where a group named The Friends of Tanzania comes in.

We've known the group for a long time. Many of the members served in the Peace Core in Tanzania, and have a deep personal connection with the country. Together, they find projects they feel are worthy of the group's financial support.

They recently contacted us to see if we had a project that fit their priorities and we found what they were seeking. In order to mount the new PC Education Center program, we need an additional classroom.

We are delighted that the Friends of Tanzania are donating half the funds needed to build a new library and computer center building at Cypress Hill. We will match their grant with general funds.

Once we've moved the books and computers to the new building (see the beginning of the foundation, in photo above) we'll have the classrooms and small lab spaces needed to set up the new center.

The Cypress Hill hostel and restaurant will provide the rest of the facilities needed--even our basketball and net ball goals will come into play!

This is a new direction for the ICSEE and will take a lot of careful planning and good management. We have found excellent advisors at nearby schools, and are ready to tackle this challenge. Students pay for these programs, but we will be subsidizing for a while as we get it established.

We are so very grateful to the Friends of Tanzania organization, and to all of you, who make dreams come true every day. Twende!