A new life for computers from the United Kingdom

By APCNews TOULOUSE, France,

Many civil society organisations think that through concrete actions of different scope, it is not only possible, but also inevitable to reduce this divide that reproduces social and economic inequalities. Supplying computers for institutions that work with vulnerable communities is a good start. At least that is something of which the British NGO ComputerAid International, is convinced.


At this point, it is much more than a beginning. Computer Aid has already sent more than 65,000 computers to 101 Latin American, African and Asian countries. Cesar Pinto, the administrator of the Hispanic section, explains the procedure as follows: “we receive, literally, hundreds of computers with each donation from universities, corporations, even PCs that people bring from their homes. All this equipment is extensively tested, cleaned and professionally reconditioned in our workshops in London. Our technicians only select the equipment with the best specifications, those that we know will work for at least three or four years without problems and that is the equipment that we send foreign organisations”. In this manner, computers that would end up accumulating dust and cobwebs in deposits (or wind up directly in the trash), transform the lives of young people and adults in countries such as Kenya, Mali or Chile.


The Colombian section of the International Organisation for Migration relies on ICT to achieve greater social and economic integration in vulnerable communities, thus diminishing or avoiding the risk of displacement. Computer Aid has supported this initiative with some 900 computers that will be installed at the schools in the Uraba region.


In Chile the Enlaces Programme of the Ministry of Education and the Todo Chilenter Foundation make computer equipment available to schools and organisations. One of the great achievements of this initiative is having ended the isolation of many rural schools. In 2005 Computer Aid handed over 3000 computers and this year 5000 more will reach other isolated (and not so isolated) areas of the Chilean territory.


Computer Aid International is also associated with projects of a regional scope, such as the Diversity Atlas (http://www.atlasdeladiversidad.net). This Latin American atlas collects the experiences of young people from different countries to promote cultural diversity. It is basically a content-based project but it also provides the technological infrastructure to enable the consolidation of a virtual community. Computer Aid, through this programme, provided seven countries with 1,250 computers and trained 44,000 professors and students.


The success of the programme presents new challenges. “We have reached a point where we have more computers than receiving organisations! Now our priority is identifying new organisations that can receive and distribute large quantities of equipment in the recipient countries. However, it is even more important to provide training and technical support to ensure that each computer we send is being used productively”, concluded Pinto.


Hence, Computer Aid computers cross oceans and mountains. This is how they contribute, in their own way, to achieving a more just world.


Contact: cesar@computeraid.org




Author: —- (APCNews)
Contact: analia@apc.org
Source: APCNews
Date: 04/03/2006
Location: TOULOUSE, France
Category: Members



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