Since 1998 the London-based charity has been collecting Pentium PCs from companies, universities and councils for refurbishment, including secure data destruction. The equipment has been supplied to 916 educational institutions and 690 community groups in 70 developing countries.
 Malawi High Commissioner Bright Msaka (right) celebrates with Tony Roberts, executive director of Computer Aid International |
The 20,000th PC was part of a shipment of 225 Pentium PCs to SchoolNet Malawi, which will distribute the equipment to secondary schools in the region who have met certain criteria that will ensure the on-going use of the PCs.
The Malawi High Commissioner, Bright Msaka, attended Computer Aid International's celebration at its headquarters on Holloway Road, London. He said: “Computer equipment is freely available here in the UK and is not only vital to business but essential in education. In Africa, 99% of children leave school without ever using a computer. We all hope that by increasing the number of computers in Malawi schools we will be able to give the next generation a head start.”
As the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive is implemented in the UK, there will be a pressure on organisations to dispose of IT equipment in an environmentally responsible way.
Tony Roberts, executive director of Computer Aid International said: “The charity is going from strength to strength and this shipment is a real landmark for everyone who's been involved over the last five years. I hope that as the new EU legislation takes effect we'll see donations increasing even more sharply, and with that, the number of beneficiaries in developing countries such as Malawi.”
Computer Aid International claims to be the 'world's largest non-profit supplier of refurbished computers to schools and community organisations in developing countries'. It also says it can collect, fully test, refurbish and ship 20 computers for the price of buying one new one in sub-Saharan Africa.
For more information on this scheme, visit the Computer Aid International website.
Subscribe for free