Computer Aid provides laptops to the Survivors Fund - Supporting Survivors of the Rwandan Genocide | 02/03/2012
Computer Aid International recently provided 26 laptops to the Survivors Fund (SURF), which is the primary international organisation supporting survivors of the genocide in Rwanda. SURF works in partnership with survivor-led organisations including AVEGA (Association of Widows of the Genocide) and AERG (Student’s Association of Genocide Survivors) to develop and deliver programmes to address the needs of survivors, ranging from healthcare to housing, education to employment.
The laptops were shipped in January. On arrival they were initially used for a two week international social action project, in which SURF developed and delivered a two week practicum on fundraising for nine of their partner organisations. The laptops enabled the partner organisations to work on developing their funding applications, which included multimedia presentations as well as excel budgets and word narrative proposals.
At the end of the project, the laptops were awarded to those partner organisations that required and requested them, to be used by their staff to enable them to work more productively, and when necessary remotely from their offices.
According to Mugabo Kalisa, IGA Officer, at AVEGA in the Western Region, having the laptops "has made a considerable difference in my professional life, enabling me to access information quickly and has made it possible for me to work more effectively too".
Kalisa said that having laptops "has simplified my work, as I can do a lot of things timely and in a modern fashion. I am able to access updates on work from others in my organisations working across the country, as well as to draft more professionally reports and to submit them on time. Now I can access the internet, I receive and send emails outside my office. Leaders can contact me more easily; and I can monitor and evaluate our activities without a problem and more quickly. The organization of my work plan has improved greatly too.
Any educational institution or not-for-profit organisation in any country can apply for Computer Aid's laptops and computers. For more information on applying please click here, or call us on +44 (0) 208 361 5540 or email info@computeraid.org
Click to return to list of headlines
Mugabo Kalisa with his laptop that was donated to Computer Aid