Totnes Computer Recycling / The digital divide in Kenya

Totnes Computers are currently collecting computers for UK Registered Charity No. 1082316UK / OOA Computer Project.

http://www.outofafrika.org.uk

The "digital divide" is evident in Kenya and the introduction of Information Communication Technology (ICT) can make a difference in the lives of the community. ICTs play a growing role in the local communities and have the potential to help disadvantaged groups increase their participation in the civic, social, political and economic processes critical to achieving change.

Deficiency of technology in African schools affects the future prospects of these young people and the community to interact with the outside world the due to the digital divide and the inability of government to adequately equip schools and colleges with computer technology. This has been left it to the private sector and charities like Out of Africa to provide schools with the technology.

Having seen how large corporations write off their computer equipment over a three year period after which time the equipment is upgraded, Out Of Afrika set up Computers for Africa to provide affordable IT equipment to a wide range of rural schools and colleges with scarce basic resources. This technology will provide IT skills for future employment within related IT areas.

OOA collects unwanted working computers P II and above from across Dorset's communities and from elsewhere in the UK. We refurbish the equipment and ship to Kenya for supplying schools, institutions, church groups, CBO’s and others at prices they can afford. We have a team of local IT people who handle the distribution, install and maintain the equipment.

" One of the goals of the organisation is to make information more widely available, accessible in local languages to the rural communities especially women, and improve their economic well being, empowerment and incorporate information and communication technologies (ICTs) as part of the community daily life" .............Desmond

ICT will offer people the challenge of attempting to broaden their horizons and become global citizens. The current infrastructure is not accommodating this desire and the need to make contributions to society and ability to utilize this information to promote capacity building, including information literacy to advance their rights and empower themselves and their community in order to move out of poverty.

".......Whereas it is obvious that the poor and hungry rural communities cannot actually Google their way out of poverty, ICT can provide a growing opportunity in a number of areas that can help them move out of it" .......Desmond ...

This project aims to bridge the digital divide and offer communities the chance to locally adapt content to different languages and contextualise it. Also there is need for the communities to share content that will build on existing systems to address diversity. However, women – particularly those in remote areas – don’t benefit from these new technologies, a reflection of the country existing unequal power relations in societies as a whole.

The gender gap in access to and use of Information and Communication is evident in this area although our research shows that women shoulder most reproductive, productive and community management responsibilities, many of which are not remunerated or reflected in local or national statistics. The lower status of women, in comparison to men is due to gender imbalances that arise from the unequal opportunities and access to and control of ICT and its benefits ICTs can be used to either exacerbate or transform unequal power relations, and create gender equality and positive social change in the community.

OOA has a vision of contributing towards the ongoing efforts for alleviation of poverty by aiming towards filling the information technology gap that adversely affects communities, mostly women, in the rural areas who make up the majority of the rural poor in our area of operation. Our vision is to make information more widely available, accessible and overcome the isolation of remote regions or disadvantaged social groups and incorporating information and communication technologies (ICTs) as part of the community daily life.

Projects in Kenya

Gatitu Secondary School in Kenya received around 30 typewriters to help them learn secretarial skills.

Over 500 typewriters were shipped to Mombasa April/May 1998/2001.

Many thanks to TecNorth and Shell for arranging shipping to Mombasa free of charge. The typewriters are to be used to develop a Skills Development Project. This will be set up as an income generating project for the schools. The income will be used to employ someone to teach typing skills and possibly to raise funds for a school library Update: May 2001 The typewriters are now being used in schools in Kenya.

Nov - Dec 2001 500 computers were shipped to Mombasa April/May 2001.

Once again many thanks to Tecnorth for arranging shipping to Mombasa free of charge. The computers have been installed and will be used to develop a Skills Development Project. This will be set up as an income generating project for the schools, churches and other non-profit organisations.

October 2003 saw Desmond and Julie preparing and packing around 200 computers, printers, typewriters, fax machines, computer books ready to fill a 20’ container, bound for Mombasa.

One Monday morning in October a 20’ container arrived at Tembo Shamba and with the help of Imelda, Cyprian and the two Andrews we had it packed and on its way in a couple of hours. The next time Julie saw the computers they were stacked in a room in Ruiru, Kenya. They were gradually distributed to schools; churches and a donation of computers were made to our partner organisations Ruiru Rehab Centre, Nuru Centre, YARD.

Thanks to the following who donated their computer equipment to OOA projects in Kenya.
Business Link Portsmouth
Birmingham City Council
Kingfisher
Watford Boys Grammar Schoo l
A number of individuals

March 2004

After spending a week at Royal London, Colchester formatting, packing and filling a container with more than 300 unwanted computers from the insurance company the 40’ container left for Felixstowe to sail to Mombasa. These computers are destined for schools, church groups, community based groups and non-profit organizations.

Many thanks to Dave Stacey, Jenny, Sid and Ian at Royal London.

Terms and conditions:

Out of Afrika will clear all the data from all the computer hard disk taking full responsibility before passing them on for use in other countries. "Refurbishment is the name given to the process of overhauling, cleaning and updating a donated PC before being acquired by a new owner. This process includes the clearing of any data or software that is left on the PC and the repair, replacement or addition of parts required to make the PC function correctly".

ICT Information and telecommunications technology to be used to meet the needs of developing countries. It seems to be the only chance if the gap between rich and poor is to be narrowed

Kofi Annan Letter on the digital divide issue

Now that you have learned about the major challenges facing today’s world, the obvious question to ask is: what can you do to help? This is how Secretary-General Kofi Annan replies to this question.

More and more, young people are asking me this encouraging question: What can I do to make things better? My advice is always start by learning and looking around you. Get to know people whose lives are different from yours. Find out what you have in common with them. Build bridges of understanding with them. It is only by doing so that we can truly appreciate the worth of others. We do so whether we are sharing our lunch with someone sitting next to us, or exchanging e-mail greetings with someone at the other end of the world. Computers and modems help us talk and listen to each other across oceans. But that would not do us much good if we did not already have a lot in common. Every society needs shared values: for our global society, that is respect for our equal human rights. We may have different religions, different languages, different coloured skins -- but we all belong to one human race. We are all part of the same human family -- and when one part of that family does well, we all do better. So we want to help others to have the same opportunities we have.

"If something has not been done before, it does not mean it can't be done; it only means you could be the first to do it."

Once you have created a bridge with others, keep it open by talking to each other and, above all, by listening. This is what I try to do in my job as Secretary-General, because I know that once I have built up trust with someone, we can work to change things together. So can you. When you see something that is wrong, no matter how big the problem is, ask yourself: Who else would like to change this? How can we work together? Take action with others who share your conviction. Have the courage to believe you can make a difference. As with everything in life, small steps count. If something has not been done before, it does not mean it can't be done; it only means you could be the first to do it.

Kofi Annan
Secretary-General
United Nations