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Terri Willard
Joined: Jul 27, 2001
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Refurbished Computers in Schools
March 9, 2004 - 11:06 AM
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To use or not to use second hand and refurbished computers as part of educational technology solutions in African schools, has been a contentious debate among ‘schoolnet’ practitioners and policymakers from all over Africa.
SchoolNet Africa (http://ycdo.takingitglobal.org/opps/orgdir.html?vieworg=5593), has just released a research report entitled "Treat Refurbs and Africa with Respect: Towards a Framework on Refurbished Computers for African Schools" that investigates the African schooling experience in the use of dumped, second-hand, and refurbished computers. The English version of the executive summary of this report is available at http://www.schoolnetafrica.net/fileadmin/resources/Refurbished_computers_ExecSum.pdf
It concludes that an integrated strategy and effective management systems are required to ensure that future projects to source and use second-hand and refurbished PCs for education purposes in African schools are more consistent, scaleable, and effective, and notes that agencies like SchoolNet Africa needs to play a leading role in this regard.
SchoolNet Africa will use the research findings to kickstart its Campaign for 1 Million PCs for African Schools which includes an intensive capacity building programme involving technical co-ordinators and prospective PC refurbishment centre managers from 20 African countries commencing 3 May 2004 and supporting the establishment of PC refurbishment centres in a number of African countries such as Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Senegal and Nigeria.
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Augusto C
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Re: Refurbished Computers in Schools
March 9, 2004 - 02:29 AM
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amigos,
I agree with Damian. There are pros and cons. What would happen if we propose the donors to receive the computer back for recicling after the use in the African Countries. Would they agree? Or would they agree to set up a process of recicling in the country/city/community the computer is going?
Is it all about money? <- I love this question. 
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Damian Profeta
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Re: Refurbished Computers in Schools
March 9, 2004 - 11:37 AM
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Yo estoy muy de acuerdo con la puesta en marcha de programas de reciclado de computadoras que el sector empresario y el sector estatal ya no usan y llevarlas a escuelas.
Sin embargo, estuve leyendo que hay oposición a estas iniciativas por los problemas ambientales que generan este tipo de materiales. Algunas ONG´s denuncian que detrás de la donación de computadoras obsoletas para el uso privado, pero útiles para uso educativo, hay lo que ellos llaman "exportación de contaminación eletrónica" a comunidades pobres.
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Bad English:
I agree with to promote programs of refurbishing of obsolete computers for the private sector and then to use these in schools.
However, I read that there is opposition to these programs for the environmental problem that generate the electronic materials. Some NGO's denounces that electronic contamination is donating to poor communities.
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Lisa Campbell Salazar
Joined: Jun 14, 2002
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Re: Refurbished Computers in Schools
March 22, 2004 - 02:28 AM
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http://www.reboot.on.ca/
refurbishing rocks!!
also
kimbercote farm is building a recycled open-source media lab:
www.kimbercote.org
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Brian
Joined: Jan 22, 2004
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Re: Refurbished Computers in Schools
March 26, 2004 - 11:52 AM
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I am familiar with one local private college in the US that orders new computers (and maybe laptops this year) for computer labs and staff about every two years to make way for newer and faster machines. The computers that are going out this year are Dell's in pretty good condition running Windows 2000 with ~ one gigahertz processors and lots of memory and hard drive space complete with network cards. These computers would make excellent boxes for students in poor countries.
On the flip side of that State Government agencies (like the one I work for) use their computers until they are nearly worn out completely (I know because I do the tech support on these pigs!). I would be very afraid to pass one of our "surplus" machines with minimal memory, slow processor and dubious maintenance history to anyone that would actually need to depend on them.
I guess as long as these donated computers passed some kind of maintenance check then it would be ok to let them go to others who may not have the resources to give them TLC (Tender Loving Care) every other day. (I hate Windows 95 and NT 4!!!)
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seyram
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Re: Refurbished Computers in Schools
March 26, 2004 - 12:38 PM
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Thats very considerate of you Briank.
As a matter of fact, wornout computers would only punch more holes in the poor ppl's pockets. But I think taiko is talking about computers that are well.
The unavoidable is that one way or another, ppl will abuse of this opportunity and use the computers for undesired purposes. But this shouldn't be a blockage to good intentions or good initiatives because like everywhere else, africa is a mixture of corrupt ppl and honest ppl.
Let not the corrupt prevent the honest's opportunities from coming.
Then again,what can you do when some leaders themselves are corrupted?
The idea of installing recicling companies is a good one which will not only bring order to the systems but also create jobs for the unemploied.
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