Computer Aid International is proud to announce the installation of 5 Portable Connectivity Centres (PCC) in the region of Haouz, Morocco.  

This connectivity centre, established in collaboration with Dell Technologies, Airbus, and our local partner Fondation Orient-Occident (FOO) aim to support a community heavily impacted by the devastating earthquake that struck Morocco on 8 September 2023.

With a magnitude of around 7 on the Richter scale, the earthquake resulted in over 3,000 deaths and 6,000 injuries, significantly affecting the Marrakech region. Many communities were left in dire need of support. Our mission with the PCC is to bridge the digital divide, providing technological access and educational opportunities to the affected population, especially children and youth.

One of the key aspects of the PCCs is their self-sufficiency and reliance on solar energy. The PCCs are fully-powered by solar energy thanks to the provision of solar panels, an invertor and battery to store the energy. This means the PCCs have no cost to the local population and are operational so long as solar energy is generated and stored in the batteries. They are also equipped with 20 Dell rugged laptops with a large battery capacity. The lab can accommodate up to 40 learners.

The objective for these PCCs: 

• Provide free IT equipment and internet access in a safe solar-powered centre to the local population.
• Offer training and workshops to equip individuals with valuable IT skills.
• Facilitate better education opportunities by providing a space for learning and teaching.
• Promote social inclusion and digital engagement among community members.
• Offer psychological aid to help the community cope with the trauma of the earthquake.
• Support personal and professional development to enhance employment prospects.

Each lab is managed by a team of 2 or 3 people that can provide basic IT training and support young students in their orientation and local unemployed youth with Job searching. 

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

	Our work contributes directly to Target 4.1 of SDG 4, by improving educational outcomes for boys and girls. Additionally, students are gaining relevant technical skills that will improve their job prospects, contributing to Target 4.4.
	This project directly contributes to Target 5.B of SDG 5, since this project has a similar ratio of girls to boys and actively promotes the usage of equipment by all, ensuring that no individual is excluded.
	By providing the community with computer labs and assistive technology, allowing members of the community to access information and communications technology, we are directly contributing to Target 9.C of SDG 9.
	ICT Equipment used in projects is donated largely from donors or companies. Therefore, this project is directly contributing to Target 12.5 from SDG 12, by reducing e-waste and using technology with an extended lifespan.

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