TechSoup Global Blog

Dear Partners,

I'm delighted to introduce our newest staff members, Pia Prangenberg and Kirsten Reinmann who have recently joined the Stifter-helfen.de team. Pia and Kirsten will support us in the daily operations and the general development of the TechSoup program in Germany. For further information please check out their short biographies.

This is a cross positing from the TechSoup.org Blog

Originally posted Thu, 03/25/2010 - 5:56pm by Elliot Harmon begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting

Over the past two weeks, we've been reporting on CDI Chile's Mobile Telecentre, a project to reconnect individuals and NGOs in Chile after the recent earthquake (first update, second update). The idea behind the project is elegant: the telecentre allows people to reconnect with loved ones with whom they haven't communicated since the earthquake. At the same time, CDI equips key local NGOs with the tools they'll need to get back on their feet and serve their communities for the weeks and months to come. With this dual approach, the CDI Mobile Telecentre is an excellent hybrid of short-term relief and long-term rebuilding.

I am very pleased to welcome Madhu Anand as the new Director of the TechSoup Global Network!

Madhu has extensive global experience in a variety of leadership positions in financial management and operational program management in corporations and non-profit organizations. Her most recent position was as Solutions Program Manager in Cisco's Corporate Quality organization where she designed and built a program to address customer quality issues.  Before joining Cisco in 1996, she worked for 8 years at Tandem Computers.  Madhu spent 6 months as a Cisco Leadership Fellow at Mercy Corps’ Financial Services Group in Kyrgyztan.   She led the evaluation, acquisition and deployment of software and network infrastructure for Mercy Corps’ rural women’s group micro-lending program.  From 2003 to 2005 she served as NetHope’s Finance Director.  Madhu is a Board member at Anudip Foundation.  From 2008 to 2009 she also served on the Board of UnityCare Group.  She received her Masters degree in Economics from University of Lucknow in India and an MBA from San Jose State University with focus on Finance.  In addition to the U.S., she has worked in India, Brussels, Canada, the UK and Kyrgyzstan.  Outside of work, Madhu enjoys theater, outdoor activities, and (obviously) travel!

Please join me in welcoming Madhu to TechSoup Global!

Over the last year the TechSoup Global Network has launched donations programme in several countries across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). We have been working with a group of fantastic organizations in Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Their diverse background and unique experiences and knowledge has both allowed and greatly enhanced TechSoup Global Networks  presence in the region. We are very proud to be working with these organizations to help us grow the network and provide technology assistance to the ngo sector.

Whilst a number of you have met our CEE partners at the last Partner Summit in San Francisco, we wanted to take this opportunity to formally introduce and thank the group that has enabled us to grow our network presence in this region.