A London-based charity that collects unused computers from businesses, wipes and refurbishes them, and gives them to schools and charities in the UK and in developing countries.
Computer Aid is a charity that gives old computers a second life. It collects laptops, computers, phones, tablets and accessories that businesses and other organisations no longer need, wipes the data, and refurbishes the equipment that can be reused. Devices are then donated to schools, charities and communities, and anything that cannot be reused is disposed of safely. Computer Aid has described its service for UK organisations as a secure way to dispose of old equipment while helping people who lack technology, and it supplies donors with reports showing where their equipment went.
Its mission, in its own words, is to help the environment and people in need by giving them access to technology and online tools. Wikipedia reports that the charity was founded in 1997 by Tony Roberts and works in information and communication technologies for development, aiming to close the digital divide. The same source says it has supplied more than 267,000 refurbished computers to schools and non-profit organisations in over 110 countries, though that article carries a note asking for better sourcing, so treat the figure with caution. Computer Aid's own recent pages give no totals.
The UK base is in London. Wikipedia lists the registered address as 33 Foley Street, London W1W 7TL, with offices in South Africa and Kenya, where the Africa headquarters is in Nairobi. The charity's own page says it operates in London and other parts of the UK and plans to expand. It has described sending refurbished devices to Zambia and Zimbabwe with online training for teachers, community leaders and business owners. A partnership with a UK IT disposal company was reported to offer secure hardware replacement for companies that includes data removal, refurbishment, reuse and recycling.
Information on culture and staff is limited. Wikipedia says a board of trustees meets quarterly to give strategic direction, and records Denis Goldberg as a former honorary patron. Denis Goldberg was an anti-apartheid campaigner, which fits a charity that frames technology as a route to opportunity. The charity's own web page is promotional and speaks mostly to business donors, and it names no staff. For that reason we cannot describe daily working life, and we have not seen reviews from people who have worked there.
In a charity like this there are practical roles, such as technicians who test and refurbish equipment, data-security staff who ensure drives are wiped properly, logistics and warehouse teams, and partnership and fundraising managers who work with companies that donate equipment. There are also programme and monitoring staff who work with schools overseas, and finance, communications and trustee support. If you like computers, enjoy taking things apart, or care about fairness in education, it shows how IT skills can go to a good cause. The organisation's own website is the best place to check for current vacancies.
Website: www.computeraid.org
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