CNN broadcast illustrates how Computer Aid benefits the environment and community development in Nigeria

9th April 2009

CNN recently visited Computer Aid International as part of a documentary on the problems of e-waste. They visited our London workshop and the Iya Abubakar Resource Center in Nigeria, who receive Computer Aid PCs to provide IT training courses to students, businessmen, and women click here to read more

Support Computer Aid by cycling through beautiful Normandy countryside and see Paris in the Springtime – there's surely no better combination! Our London to Paris challenge is open to anyone, links two great European cities, and includes 300km of fantastic cycling over a short four day weekend.

Between now and then we'll support you all the way to raise your sponsorship and your fitness. Not only will this event be an amazing experience, your participation will also make a massive difference: every pound you raise means vital computer literacy for a child in the developing world!

All you need to do is sign up, dust off your bicycle and off you go! To find out more and bag your place click here now!

Children learning IT skills on a
Computer Aid donated PC in the
Manabi province, Ecuador

23rd February 2009

In partnership with the Ecuadorian Commission for Cooperation and Development, Fedeicomiso Ecuatoriano de Cooperacion para el Desarollo (FECD) Computer Aid has provided computers to schools in the poorest regions of Ecuador. FECD is a grassroots organisation that aims to improve sustainable living conditions of the most vulnerable communities, mainly indigenous groups in rural Ecuador.

Read More...

Computer Aid driver Simon collecting
a donation of laptops

2nd February 2009

We conducted a donor satisfaction questionnaire during December and January. 419 of our donors responded to the questionnaire.

The findings were very positive: 93% of respondents rated Computer Aid’s work as Good or Excellent and 97% of donors said they would consider using Computer Aid again.

Click here to view the questionnaire

Cyclists on our last event in Madagascar

20th January 2009

Already made and broken your New Year's resolutions? Fear not: there's no better incentive to get back on track than by joining our Chile Cycle Challenge! We're heading to remote Patagonia this September for five days of cycling in one of the great wildernesses left on earth. You'll see some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet and get to meet the local communities benefiting from our work. There's never been a better time to sign up! Find out more and benefit from our early registration discount here

School children learn IT skills on Computer Aid donated PCs at the Cistercian Monastery School, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

5th January 2009

As part of our commitment to providing the highest quality computers to our beneficiary projects in the developing world, Computer Aid is now only sending Pentium 4 computers or equivalent. This means that every shipment of computers provided to schools and community organisations in the developing world, will now contain 100% Pentium 4 or equivalent PCs. Computer Aid is committed to providing the highest quality professionally refurbished PCs
available at the lowest possible cost. To apply for our PCs click here

British High Commissioner Rob Macaire and David Blunkett MP hand over the laptops to the Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University Prof. Olive Mugenda

24th November 2008

The Department for International Development (DFID) last week donated 25 laptops to Computer Aid International, to be used by visually impaired students at Kenyatta University, Kenya. The former UK cabinet minister David Blunkett MP was present at the handover. Each laptop has been provided with a dolphin pen which enables partially sighted students to easily access information on their PC or laptop. Read more.

10th November 2008

Watch a short film about the work of Computer Aid International. This is Computer Aid’s most recent film completed in October 2008. The film was produced by Dan Simmons from the BBC as part of a Media Trusts Volunteer Films project.  To view the film in a larger format  click here

Click here to watch the BBC click online documentary featuring Computer Aid's initiatives in assistive technologies.

Read more..

21st October 2008

In the tiny village of Isaingy in Madagascar a modest school has received exceptional support through a joint project of Computer Aid with Microsoft. As well as a lab of PCs received through the Digital Pipeline the school has benefited from donated software, a printer and projector and from a training workshop for teachers. Thirty cyclists cycled for 430 km raising money to equip other schools, received a rousing send-off after their recent visit to the school.

And it's not too late for YOU and your colleagues to sign up to either our London To Paris Cycle challenge or Cycle Chile

ICT has helped Fred Mweetwa find relevant information on the growing conditions and processing of sunflowers

16th October 2008

Computer Aid has provided 400 wireless routers and 200 PCs to effectively double the size of Africa's largest rural mesh network in Macha, Zambia. Local partners, LinkNet Zambia, have been able to sustain Internet communication in Macha through mesh technology.

Macha’s Chief Chikanta spoke to Computer Aid explaining the importance of ICT for agriculture and
for the preservation of Africa culture. Fred Mweetwa, board secretary of Macha's ISP (Internet service provider) at LinkNet, said Internet connectivity in Macha has supported the communication needs of rural schools and hospitals and created new employment opportunities for villagers

Read more in Computerworld Zambia

Dame Suzi Leather with David Griffiths of Computer Aid International

1st October 2008

Last week the Charity Commission Chair, Dame Suzi Leather paid Computer Aid International a visit.

The visit was one of a number of visits she is making to charities in order for her to gain a real understanding of the work we do and the different activities we are involved in. She was given a tour of the warehouse and workshop and she met and spoke to several Computer Aid staff and volunteers.

After her visit she said "I was hugely impressed by Computer Aid International. The drive and commitment that all of the staff and volunteers we met, clearly have, was inspiring!"

Dame Suzi was particularly interested in our projects around the world, and we very much appreciated the opportunity to meet her.

Doctor using a Computer Aid donated laptop in Makindu District Hospital, Kenya

22 September 2008

Computer Aid today launched a campaign calling on the UK government to tighten up the WEEE directive and take action to prevent the UK's electrical waste (e-waste) being illegally exported and dumped in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and China. The Environment Agency must be provided with the resources to enable them to police e-waste, prosecute anyone involved in a supply chain that results in the dumping of e-waste and remove licences from organisations in breach of the WEEE legislation.

Computer Aid's mission is to reduce poverty through practical ICT solutions. Modern economic development is not possible without information and communication technologies, but we must put a stop to this shameful abuse of non tested and faulty equipment being dumped in the developing world.

Click here to view press release

Sign Computer Aid's petition on the Downing Street web site, calling on the government to provide extra funding to support the Environment Agency's efforts to tackle the illegal shipping of electronic waste to Africa and Asia.

Martin Kieti using a Computer Aid laptop installed with adaptive technology for visually impaired users at Kenya Union of the Blind

21 September 2008

The BBC has visited a Computer Aid project in Kenya that helps blind and partially sighted users compete in a jobs market that values computer skills. Computer Aid has been working with Sightsavers International, providing computers installed with adaptive technologies, such as screen magnification and voice output software. Computer Aid has provided computers to 22 countries through the charity. Click here to watch the BBC click online documentary.

Computer Aid receives record donation of PCs Students using Computer Aid donated PCs in Selam Orphanage, Ethiopia

Tom Musili, Executive Director of CFSK in front of the new recycling plant

Computer Aid PCs are used by community radio stations in Chile enabling Chilean women to have their voices heard. The women's organisation Corporacion La Morada in Chile uses Computer Aid's donated PCs to empower women in their communities and promote social change.

La Morada aims to empower women in their communities by changing the balance of gender relations and promoting the social inclusion of discriminated groups. It has set up various community radio stations across the country using Computer Aid's donated PCs.

More...

Shahid Malik MP with Computer Aid Founder Tony Roberts at Computer Aid's 10th Anniversary

April 2008

A large number of supporters joined us in celebrating our 10th anniversary this week including South Africa's high commissioner Her Excellency Lindiwe Mabuza and Shahid Malik UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development.

Shahid Malik congratulated Computer Aid for distributing over 100,000 PCs to developing countries since 1998.
Malik also announced on the evening that the Department for International Development (DFID) would be donating around 1,000 used but functional laptops to Computer Aid.

He said "DFID is updating its old laptops, which still have life in them but are not up to running the software we need to make DFID work efficiently (...) I'm delighted to be celebrating Computer Aid's 10th anniversary. Computer Aid does some great work in Africa which I'm pleased to support"

Read some coverage of the event in Business Green and ZDnet

April 2008

Brent Council donated over 500 PCs, laptops and monitors to Computer Aid International.
Using Computer Aid's asset tracking service, Brent has been able to follow its refurbished PCs and laptops to a variety of education, healthcare and poverty-reduction projects in Africa. These include the National Health Students Association of Ghana, where IT equipment is providing Ghanian healthcare professionals with access to a wealth of e-learning and e-health resources to equip them to handle illnesses such as AIDS and malaria, and Crescent Future Kids in Zambia, which is empowering Zambian youths with the skills to contribute positively to their nation's economic development.