A Great Way to Recycle Computers & Monitors

14th November 2012

IT Schools Africa - Doing Good with Old Computers

In the UK, learning to use a computer is an essential part of every child’s education and we take it for granted that schools are well equipped with PCs. But across Africa it is a very different story. Only a tiny proportion of African schools have computers and few children are gaining these essential skills for the modern workplace. A Cheltenham based registered charity, IT Schools Africa (ITSA), is working to change this. The charity collects old computers refurbishes them and distributes them to schools in Africa. Since 2004, the charity has distributed nearly 35,000 computers to Africa, equipping over 1,300 schools with IT labs, including every state secondary school in Zambia.

IT Schools argue that it is better to refurbish and re-use computer equipment rather than simply sending the kit to be broken up and the parts recycled. School children in Africa will get 5 or 6 years use from the computers they send out. A much better way to help tens of thousands of young people learn about IT and help to reduce the digital divide between developed and developing nations.

In the UK, ITSA provides educational establishments, business and individuals with a convenient, cost-effective and environmentally sound way of re-cycling their unwanted computer equipment. Data security is a very high priority and as soon as a computer is received, the hard drive is removed and all the data erased using specialist software. The computers are then refurbished, upgraded if necessary and fully tested, before being packed ready for shipment to Africa.

Once the computers reach Africa ITSA takes great care to ensure that they reach the intended schools and are used effectively. In Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe ITSA has established locally run NGOs, each employing four to five technicians to manage the distribution of the computers. These NGOs, receive the computers, ensure they are stored securely, re-test them, load the software and help the schools set up their IT labs. The NGOs also run 5-day training courses to provide the teachers with the skills they need to use the computers. In an important final step, the NGOs also arrange end of life re-cycling of the computers. When they finally fail, the computers are collected from the schools and shipped to a specialist plant in South Africa for complete re-cycling. The charity also sends computers to Kenya and Madagascar through partner organisations.

The project is doing a considerable amount of good in the UK too. At its Cheltenham warehouse ITSA provides practical work experience for the long-term unemployed and young people with special needs. The mix of practical, hands-on tasks and working in an adult environment has been particularly successful in helping children who have been excluded from school. The charity is also involved in a unique restorative justice programme with the prison service. Across five prison workshops, more than 100 prisoners undertake the refurbishment and testing of the majority of IT Schools Africa’s computers. The programme provides the prisoners with interesting and challenging work as well as IT skills that will improve their job prospects on release.

IT Schools Africa aims to send over 7,000 computers a year to African schools, but to do this they need to receive more computers in donations. To meet the demand, the charity is appealing to Universities and Colleges in the UK to donate old computer kit. If you are interested in helping contact Ron Pearce, on 01242 228800 or email ron@itschoolsafrica.org.

IT Schools Africa, Mead Road Industrial Estate, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Glos GL53 7EF

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Registered Charity no. 1146157. www.ITSchoolsafrica.org.