The University of Aberdeen has provided hundreds of computers to children in Africa and refugee families living in the north east as part of a charity initiative.
Working with Reusing IT, a Scottish charity, the University has sent around 350 computers to Kenya, Sierra Leone and Ghana, where they are now used in community schools, orphanages and primary health projects.
A recent shipment of 100 computers to Kahuho Academy, Nairobi, South West Kenya, saw the school kitted out with new PCs.
Meanwhile, Syrian refugee families who have settled in the north east have received a donation as part of a wider council initiative. The University has also donated PCs to local Aberdeen charity, the Foyer, to help support their work in supporting independent living.
Brian Henderson, Director of Information Technology at the University of Aberdeen, said: “The University replaces a quarter of its computer stock annually in order to ensure we have the very best facilities for students and staff.
“The machines we replace are by no means redundant, but they cannot necessarily take advantage of the very latest applications.
“Rather than get rid of this equipment we have been working in partnership with Reusing IT to help community and volunteer-run projects in vital areas such as health and education.
“It’s great to see our old PCs being given a new lease of life and helping people who might not otherwise have had access to this kind of technology.”
Ross Cockburn, a Trustee of Reusing IT added, “The University of Aberdeen is at the forefront of Scottish universities in terms of technology charity.
“These computers were originally bought for educational purposes and have many years of use left, so it’s right that they should continue to be used for education rather than being destroyed.
“Before computers can be reissued for use, secure auditable data destruction is carried out to ensure any confidential or sensitive information is deleted when equipment is donated.”