Computers 4 Africa

After a lot of preparation and behind the scenes work, all the usable pieces of equipment we receive are sent out to Africa, last year we sent out almost 700 full computer systems to Tanzania. To finally see them out there being used, after all the hard work is one of the best feelings in the world. Here are a few stories of the situation in Africa and how the generous donations of computers from people and businesses around the UK have helped.
 

Article By: Mike Wood, Chairman of the Kent Head Teachers' IT Advisory Committee

What's the Need?

"Will you come and give a presentation to my staff?" asked the headteacher of a primary school on the Tugela River in KwaZuluNatal, South Africa. I couldn't immediately see what I had to offer his enthusiastic teachers whose vibrant classrooms and eager students had left me full of admiration.

"What about?" was my immediate response. As a retired secondary principal I'm hardly brimming with insights into the primary curriculum.

"Anything at all will do. They get so little chance to interact with an educator outside of the immediate area."

The dilemma of his teachers is obvious. Large classes, no support staff, few resources and little opportunity for networking beyond the locality. They desperately need to exchange views and opinions with colleagues from other parts of the globe.

The first response of the UK visitor to such a school is often to offer to raise funds or channel resources to their African colleague. Few African schools would refuse such overtures but it is increasingly being recognised that it is partners which Africa needs, not just donors.

Aseri Katanga is Chairman of Computer's 4 Africa's Board of Trustees. He visited some of the projects we've been supporting in Tanzania at the end of last year and wrote this report:

As usual my trip to Tanzania is always a mission of discovery and consolidating those old projects which need some TLC (tender loving care). This time round was no exception. I visited so many schools; some that we had been to before, and some new additions to the C4A (Computers 4 Africa) family as well. I was accompanied by three ladies- Claire, Alison and Suzi Clay, the portfolio director of Land Securities in the UK. They all agreed that at C4A, we're very much a hands on organisation that travels and works in some of the toughest locations and operates totally by invitation, it's not a question of looking for 'things to do' but responding to the needs and request of the locals.