Thanks to generous donations from Brad Lichtenstein, an alum of MIT, and Gari Clifford, a professor at MIT, BeeHive School has two more computers! Gari got the laptop with the help of the Laboratory for Computational Physiology at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology who has kindly supported MIT’s involvement with BeeHive School. The laptops have already reached BeeHive School in the care of Justin Cannon, an MIT student who is working on a project to bring “Internet” to BeeHive School – you can read more about their project here. The students at BeeHive School are enjoying using the educational games on all the laptops we have donated, but currently there are only six computers shared among 187 students. This means that students get a little less than half an hour of computer time a week. If you have a functional laptop you would like to donate, please contact info AT beehiveschool DOT com – a donation would make a big difference.

A big thank you to Brad Lichtenstein (left) and Gari Clifford (right) for donating the laptops. (Photos of the laptops in the school to come!)

And we’re online! Finally – after a summer of looking for “pass through” organizations, writing proposals, and fervently checking our e-mails it has happened. Ladies and gentlemen, Beehive is ready to accept donations! ASAP, our ‘pass through’ organization has graciously accepted to partner with us. We were trying to decide between between a couple “pass through” organizations, but ASAP looked best as they have been involved with non-profit work in Zimbabwe for the past eight years and are currently starting up a project in non other than…dun dun dun…Mzuzu, Malawi! So, for that reason, we felt they were the ideal pass through. All donations shall be sent to them and managed by them. You can learn more about the work ASAP does here:    http://www.asapafrica.org/

Special thanks to Katy for all her hard work improving the website, maintaining it, and getting down to the nitty gritty to work out all the kinks. She’s amazing!

But most of all – let’s never forget who really makes Beehive, Beehive – Niall Dorey.

Niall has been working hard this summer (their winter season), not only to keep the school moving smoothly, training new teachers, and improving the curriculum, but also working hard to get the land grant, which is so critical to the construction of the new school. It seems that no matter where you go – you will find red tape – and Niall has found his share of it as he tries to get a piece of land that will meet the needs of the future Beehive School. Let’s all give our warm support to Niall – let him know we’ve all got our fingers crossed for him – if you want to send him good wishes, his e-mail is on the site, so send him your encouragements.

Another thanks goes to the Rotary Club of Palo Alto and Woodside for their invaluable advice and continued support through the entire process. Their advice has been very much appreciated – particularly in these initial steps into unfamiliar ground of getting non-profit status and forming a strong organization.

Another thanks to the lovely Flor Cassassuce, who is dedicating her life to really changing the world for the poor. To learn more about Flor’s work internationally, please  read here.

Flor has recently won a competitive $100,000 grant from the World Bank, which she is using to disseminate the Ultra Violet Disinfection Technology in a form that is form that is appropriate for developing countries. Flor has many future plans to improve the standard of living in developing countries.

A very special thanks goes out to Niall’s parents in England who have been unfailing in their efforts to send us needed information and maintain communication through the weeks and even months that internet has been virtually non-existent in Niall’s home. Whether it’s shipping cd’s of pictures across the country or scouring our website for those annoying typos – they have been passionately and lovingly involved.