Thank you Abby for donating a very friendly used laptop
Heidi from WA donated her laptop, and it's working great! Thank you!
We are officially a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization!
It was a VERY long process… but I am grateful that at least that part of the paper work is over!
Our main project that we are trying to organize right now is a 5K fun run called called "Building a Bridge to an Education." It is tentatively scheduled to take place on October 10, 2010 at 10 am. (10-10-10 @ 10) This is to help raise $10,000 to build the much needed bridge in Moba-Port so that kids can have access to their schools and the Internet Learning Center even when the river floods (which is does VERY often).
I think it's kind of catchy! "Building a Bridge to an Education" 10-10-10 @ 10 for 10 thousand. 
Like it?
When David was home visiting, that was one of the areas that the children were really asking us to try to look for ways to improve it. So, we are trying to have the 5k be over a bridge in Seattle called I-90.
We'll post updates as they come. Thanks to everyone for all support!
We are still researching affordable internet plans and antenna dish. If anyone has some great ideas, please feel free to comment or contact us. Thanks!
Mary and David Manda donate the first two laptops to Project Mtandao (their own persona laptops!)
Would you like to donate your laptop? Please contact us today!
We received our UBI & EIN numbers. We are now incorporated in the state of Washington!
*The following message was the first request for support from David & Mary Manda.
For many of us, logging onto the internet is something that's as easy as 1…2…3. (Unless your internet server is down which always seems to have happened right when you needed to send in an assignment to a professor or get directions to a location at the last minute– as you can tell, I have some experience in dealing with malfunctioning networks. hehe) For many more people, it's not just a matter of not being able to connect to the internet for an hour or two of your day.
Some people don't have access to the internet at all. The fact that people don't have internet isn't in itself a problem. It's the fact that the people I am referring to do not have access to current information/research. They are basically cut off from so many of the forms of communication and information that we take for granted every day.
Why now? Why after all these years of using the computer do I finally speak up for those who don't have it? It's because until now, I didn't realize how it could affect people– how much it could connect people to a world that they have been isolated to. I am not saying that "our way" is the only way… but I do believe that there is some vital information out there that all people should be at liberty to have.
Much to my dismay, the people of Moba-Port in the Democratic Republic of Congo have not experienced such liberty up to this time. My husband has pointed out time and again that the citizens of Moba are incredibly intelligent and creative. I can only imagine what incredible discoveries they could make and advances for their country if only people were given the freedom to research and tap into the world around them.
So what am I asking for? My husband and I are trying to start up an Internet Learning Center (non-profit) in Moba-Port so that people of all ages can discover new things about the world around them. We also desire for students to be able to have access to information online because currently, the government does not provide schools with a lot of books.
We are willing to pay for the cost of getting an antenna set up in Moba-Port (approx. $600) but are unable to pay for enough lap-tops to start up the Internet Learning Center. Our goal is to just get at least 4 more gently-used laptops. We are both donating our own lap-tops to help get things started. He was going to take our desk top computer but decided that it will be too difficult to travel with it. If you would like to help, we would be so grateful! David will be traveling to Africa (The Democratic Republic of Congo) around the middle-end of November and staying there for a month to start his campaigning and do some research.
We would LOVE to surprise the people of Moba-Port with a gift that comes from people that are familiar with the benefit of having access to the internet. Please contact me at contactus@connectingcongo.com, leave me a message on facebook, or call my cell. Thank you in advance. Even if you feel like you can't help out at this time, please be praying for us. This is something that has truly been placed upon our hearts. I know that not all of us are planning on buying a new laptop or computer right now… but if you know someone that is or hear of one that someone is getting rid of, let us know!!!
Thank you so much
Mary and David Manda
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