global traveler
Harry Konnor Tetteh
Harry goes to college. In itself, not unusual. He also volunteers to help underprivileged schools to learn about technology. Again, not unusual. What IS unusual is that Harry lives in Ghana and there is very little technology anywhere; what there is costs big bucks! 'Harry's kids' did not have a computer, or an Internet connection, nor the software to create a website, but still Harry was determined to have them enter Global School Net's Doors to Diplomacy.

Harry working with high school students.

Harry with his students.
Harry's determination saw results. He partnered with John Muir Magnet School in San Diego who created the site for the school in Ghana. Sounds simple, but there is more to the story. Harry and his students gathered the information, but it still needed to get to Muir School. Remember, they have no computer and no Internet connection.

Harry worked with his own computer at the school. Then he went to the Internet cafe... no there was no Starbucks in town. Harry had to go many miles to the city of Accra for Internet access. AND, there were no 'free' wireless hookups if you sat and had a cup of coffee. Harry paid from his own money the per hour fee to send the information to Muir school.

See Global SchoolNet's press release about Harry and Muir school.


'Doors' students outside their school

Yvonne Andres & Harry

The Global Schoolnet Board, meeting the day after the convention, was so moved by Harry's efforts that they designated him the first ever GSN Online Shared learning Hero and presented him with a cash award.

Harry also received a prize from SanDisk - the SanDisk Cruzer -- the 1GB one to safely and securely backup and carry all his files.

Just minutes before Harry had talked about how difficult it was to get content for education in Africa.

With the SanDisk Cruzer and an Internet connection, he will be able to 'plug in' to their network server which contains a variety of curricular materials for which SanDisk owns the digital rights (and which it shares with it's users!)

[SanDisk is also giving one of these to each of Marsha's 6th grade class!]


Don Mitchell & Harry holding his SanDisk Cruzer

Needless to say, Harry won all our hearts. He's incredibly humble. After the Global SchoolNet awards, many of us gave him a little bit of cash to help him continue his work.

His genuine smile was all the thanks a person could ever need!

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