Twenty years ago, a simple act of hospitality set off a chain of events that would transform the lives of thousands of students in rural Tanzania.
When Powering Potential’s founder, Janice Lathen, traveled to Tanzania in 2006, she visited Banjika Secondary School, which had been co-founded the previous year by Sue Rickert, a former Peace Corps Volunteer. What Janice saw at the school inspired her to change the lives of thousands.
Despite limited resources and no access to technology, the students’ drive to learn was undeniable. Moved by their enthusiasm, Janice returned to the U.S. with a vision. The next year, Banjika became the first school in Tanzania to receive new computers, followed by a solar power system.
Among the first to use those computers was a young teacher named Albin Mathias, who taught himself digital skills on that very equipment. Those skills opened doors—and today, Albin leads the Potential Enhancement Foundation (PEF), Powering Potential’s Tanzanian partner. He now oversees every school installation, teacher training, and technology upgrade, ensuring that students across the country can access the same life-changing opportunities he once did at Banjika.
A Milestone Year for Banjika
This year, Banjika celebrated the 20th anniversary of its founding.
To mark the occasion, we donated 10 brand-new computers. We are proud to continue our partnership with Banjika and make sure they continue to set the standard for quality education in Tanzania. This milestone levels the playing field for rural schools, opening doors to higher education and careers.
What began with a handful of computers has grown into a network of solar-powered labs serving more than tens of thousands of students each year, tripling graduation rates and making graduates ten times more likely to find meaningful employment.
Expanding Opportunity Across Karatu
As we celebrate this milestone, we are also looking ahead.
This year, with your help, we will install computers and conduct training at four more schools: Marang, Diego, Kilimamoja, and Kilimatembo Secondary Schools. Each school will soon have solar power, 20 computers, and training, giving hundreds of students a pathway to digital literacy and economic opportunity.
