Computer Aid International

1. Computer Aid International Anja ffrench Supply Officer

2. Introduction • Our mission • About Computer Aid International • Bridging the Digital Divide • Our IT donors and partners • ICT and Distance Education • AMREF e-learning for nurses • eLearning at Kenyatta University • Atlas – Education in Latin America

3. Mission • Computer Aid International has two key functions: • To provide a professional PC decommissioning service to businesses and individuals with rigorous data-security and environmentally friendly disposal of PCs and related peripherals. • To help bridge the digital divide between rich and poor by fully refurbishing the PCs and redistributing them to where they are most needed in developing countries.

4. About Computer Aid International • Established in 1997, Computer Aid International is a registered charity (no. 1069256) and company limited by guarantee (no.3442679). • Computer Aid is the world’s largest not for profit supplier of refurbished computers to schools and community organisations in developing countries. • We have knowledge, expertise and professionalism in the development field

5. Bridging the Digital Divide • No accurate figures available on quantity of PCs being discarded in the UK. • We can however assume that it is in the millions. We know that around 2 million are sent to recycling plants, but don’t know what happens to the remainder. • The vast majority of school children in the developing world have never touched a PC • One refurbished PC provides 6,000 hrs of computer access time

6. Some of our donors include:

7. Some of our partners include:

8. ICT and Distance Education • AMREF e-learning for nurses • eLearning at Kenyatta University • Atlas – Education in Latin America

9. Kenya critical nursing shortage • AMREF has created an electronic training programme • Upgrade nurses from certificate to diploma level • 80 hour E-learning curriculum and will be deployed in 32 regional training centres. • This e-learning programme was launched in September 2005

10. It is a collaboration between AMREF, the Nursing Council of Kenya and Accenture • Accenture have funded this project, 1.7 million dollars cash gift and 1.2 million dollars worth of consulting • Goal to bring 26,000 nurses to diploma-level certification in five years • Without computer technology training so many nurses would normally take 100 years under traditional methods

11. The diploma will enable nurses to deliver basic health services, and manage and treat new and re-emerging diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis • Computers are being distributed to medical training colleges throughout Kenya • Students have a roster to give everyone a chance to use the computers • They have ordered 4000 computers from Computer Aid, we have so far provided them with 597 • www.amref.org

12. The Kenyatta University e-Learning (KUeL) • The African Virtual University, is a World Bank initiated project established in 1996 • To help bridge the digital divide in Africa especially by building capabilities in science and engineering • Kenya one of the beneficiaries of this project • Offers degrees in 5 areas, arts, commerce, education, science, and environmental studies • Also offers postgraduate courses up to doctoral level in education, arts and science

13. Kenyatta e-learning aims to: • Increase provision • Increase enrolment in science courses • Build capacity • Contributes to bridging the digital divide • Increase participation of women in science and engineering

14. Around 12,000 students in Kenya are currently enrolled on e-learning courses • Computer Aid has so far provided Kenyatta University with 900 computers. • www.ku.ac.ke

15. ATLAS encompasses 21 countries, all the Latin American countries and Spain and Portugal as well as some Spanish speaking schools in the US • Formed by partners, schools, coordinators, teachers and students in Latin America, Spain and Portugal • Aims to provide IT education to children and adults from all backgrounds – from urban slums to remote rural areas. • Atlas is a multilingual, virtual human network

16. Atlas • Schools in the project are part of an online community • They are able to communicate with each other via the web. • It teaches the use of computers through using computers • Children interact with children of the same age across the globe, sharing experiences and building understanding and respect of different cultures.

17. Groups of pupils, teachers and parents create Retratos (multimedia documents) which are posted on the project site and shared with schools across the globe. • Then end product of the whole project is Atlas of Diversity • ATLAS works with partners in each country it operates and has project officers on the ground

18. Participation has surpassed expectations, 49,000 children and young people, and 39,000 teachers and young coordinators are enrolled on ATLAS courses. • 1,380 schools are currently taking part in ATLAS courses • Computer Aid to date has provided 1,250 computers to seven Latin American countries and over 70 schools, many in rural and remote areas who are partaking in ATLAS. • www.atlasdeladiversidad.net

19. Thank you www.computeraid.org