Teneo and its Riverbed partner RanTek join forces in CSR project to build new school in Madagascar
UK Managed Service Provider & fellow Riverbed partner in Denmark have ‘meeting of minds’ to support school project for development charity
Theale, UK June 18, 2019 – Teneo, the Work From Anywhere IT services company, has joined forces with its fellow Riverbed technology partner RanTek in Denmark, to construct a new school in the remote village community of Andramanaka, in the South East region of the island of Madagascar. Teneo and RanTek’s joint building project started in late May and ran until earlier this month with overall completion of the school expected in September.
Both Teneo and RanTek are longstanding partners of Riverbed Technology, Inc., helping the digital performance company build its EMEA presence over the last fifteen years.
In May, a joint Teneo-RanTek team travelled to Madagascar to put up the structure, going back to construction basics – fabricating the concrete blocks for the building on site before construction began. Making the volunteers’ task even harder, Andramanaka village has no road connection, so the team had to make a three-hour hike even after finishing their car journey from SEED’s regional office.
Constructing a new school will provide local children of primary and secondary ages with the opportunity for regular schooling as well as help them escape from poverty. Madagascar is one of the world’s poorest nations: approximately 20 of its 22 million people are classed as living in poverty and many children have to work to support their families.¹ 
The school construction project is the centrepiece of Teneo and RanTek’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and volunteering programmes in 2019. In addition, it forms part of UK-based sustainable development charity SEED Madagascar’s ongoing development for small communities on the island republic off the coast of East Africa.
James Hall, Teneo’s operations director, says: “We’re very excited to be joining forces with RanTek and sending a team over to support a second project in Madagascar, after we refurbished school buildings in the town of Manambaro, also in the Anosy region of the island, last year. With both our US Teneo colleagues and RanTek team from Denmark involved, we’re making a lasting commitment to this community’s development over the longer term.” 
RanTek founder Rene Bach Pedersen says the project has created huge interest from staff and customers alike. He says: “It’s a total meeting of minds with Teneo, developing a long-term and sustainable volunteering project for communities in Madagascar. But we’ve also had an explosion of interest from employees that want to take part as well as customers and technology partners that have donated to this project.”
Mark Jacobs, Managing Director of SEED Madagascar, says: “We are working closely with local communities to reach our charitable vision of communities and ecosystems sustainably thriving. We’re thrilled that Teneo and RanTek are providing investment and hands-on support for the Andramanaka school project.”
¹A recent report has stated that Madagascar is the poorest nation in the world.
About Teneo
Most IT Infrastructure and Operations teams are overworked and struggle to introduce new technology. At Teneo, our Work From Anywhere IT services combine leading technology with expert guidance, so they can embrace innovation with confidence. Find us at www.teneo.net
Connect with Teneo:
- Teneo Blog
- Teneo News
- Twitter (@TeneoGrp)
About RanTek
Since 1999 RanTek have established considerable experience in adopting new ways of making IT Simplified, Automated and Protected. In cooperation with suppliers and partners, RanTek implements effective and reliable IT optimization solutions, and delivers documented value and significant economic savings to customers. Find out more at www.rantek.dk
Connect with RanTek:
- RanTek News
- Twitter (@RanTekAS)
About SEED Madagascar
SEED Madagascar is an award-winning British registered charity founded in 2000. Operating in the south-east of Madagascar, we manage sustainable development and conservation projects in the town of Fort Dauphin and within rural communities across the Anosy region. Our aim is to raise global awareness of Madagascar’s unique needs and to aid local development. With an approach based on partnerships, co-management and skill-sharing by individuals, communities and local organisations, it’s our intention that our resulting programmes lead to lasting change, alleviate poverty and support environmental conservation for some of the world’s most vulnerable people in threatened and irreplaceable environments. We can proudly state that 92% of all donations we receive go directly to support our charitable aims. Find out more at https://madagascar.co.uk/
Connect with SEED Madagascar:
- SEED Madagascar News
- Twitter (@SEEDMadagascar)
Press enquiries: Mark Walker Skout PR: mark.walker@skoutpr.com;
+44 (0) 1625 869418 / 07886 551703