Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.960106114349.10768E-100000@osf1.gmu.edu> Date: Sat, 6 Jan 1996 12:10:14 -0500 From: Anthony D Bloome <mailto:abloome@OSF1.GMU.EDU> Subject: Re: Computers for Africa To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Santiago and others,I am currently in the process of setting up a small non-profit organization based in the D.C. area with the purpose of providing used computer equipment to educational-oriented institutions (schools and NGO's) in developing countries, including Africa and Latin America. Twice in the last year, I had floated the idea for an organization of this nature on this listserve and received back very enthusiastic support. As I get more involved in the process of putting it together in the next few months, I hope to benefit from additional suggestions and comments (e.g., securing funding). I like the idea of establishing a consortium to track both potential hardware contributors and recipients and would be willing to help in its development. Feel free to e-mail me, if you'd like more information.
Tony Bloome
On Fri, 5 Jan 1996, Santiago Hileret wrote:
> On jan 5 Catherine Briggs wrote:
>
> >I think your consortium/foundation idea is good, the more donations
> >>like this the better..
> SNIP
> > I do know the Boston
> >>Computer Society (or a group affiliated in some way) does some of
> >>this at least locally, for nonprofits. I imagine there are others
> >>too in other locations. of at least one organization. Anyone with
> >>info on groups doing this for overseas needs in particular?
> Two points on the issue of "organized"/"programmed" equipment donations.
> A) Info I can share, from a recent issue of Science News (article by Janet
> Raloff). Here are some companies that are in the business of facilitating
> these transactions &/or absorbing trade-ins from companies.
>
> -IBC (Int'l Business Commodities), Dedham, MA/US. (617)320-0123. These
> folks are under contract from IBM to administer its trade-in program
> globally. What they do is they help reduce the sales tax that a buyer of
> new equipment gets to pay by deducting the value of IBM and non-IBM
> equipment traded in. They take machines equipped with all kinds of
> processors (even 8088s!) but they will only pay for 386-or better
> equipment. This suggeests they might be open to passing along older
> equipment at no cost. (There are adapter boards for 286s that let you
> upgrade them to 386 or 486, so you're not stuck forever with "decrepit"
> technology).
> -East West Education Development Foundation, Boston, MA/US (617)261-6699
> These are probably the folks that Catherine refers to in her post. They
> mainly handle the transfer of equipment from donors to recipients
> *designated by the donors*. Therefore, the recipients have to first line up
> donors willing to pony up at least $250 for a machine with a 286 processor
> (at least $400 for a 386-class system).
> -Computer Reclamation, Silver Spring, MD/US (301)495-0280 works along
> similar lines, plus it runs workshops at local schools where computers
> needing repairs get fixed. According to the article, however, they charge
> only a $25 fee per unit, so they appear to be the bargain-basement
> provider.
>
> Finally, for folks already organized as 501 (c) (3)s, there is Gifts In
> Kind America, of Alexandria, VA/US. (703)836-2121 or
> <mailto:ProductDonations@GiftsInKind.org>. These guys redistribute everything from
> food and clothes to computers and software. Their programs covering
> computers and software are "Productivity" and "Recycle Technology".
> Recipient groups pay a fee ($125 to $250 depending on their annual budgets)
> to join as members and receive monthly newsletters and other materials
> listing what's available. They only work with US and Canadian
> (tax-domiciled) organizations.
>
> B) On the larger issue of forming a consortium or other effort to make
> this "hand-me-up" process (as I call it, since it truly raises the standard
> at destination) more systematic, I have also been trying to develop a
> similar proposal, although of a much more general nature.
> I thought that it might be easier to keep track of who has what equipment
> (that they might be willing to donate or trade-in) if enough manufacturers
> could be talked into adding a couple of lines to their registration cards
> for new equipment. These lines would ask buyers to give their consent for
> their names to be entered into a (highly secure/confidential) database of
> would-be donors along with the earliest date they would like to be
> approached. In other words, a system similar to what is in use for organ
> transplants. You agree in principle long before the actual situation comes
> up, with delivery and exact details of transaction to be decided at that
> time.
> The advantage of such a system would be that it would allow NGOs and others
> to have some idea of what is bound to become available within the next 6
> months to a year and plan accordingly. Assignment could be decided on a
> combination of need, proven track record of efficient utilization of past
> donations and even some kind of a raffle for the turn to choose such as is
> done for basketball players and other athletes (an occasion for donors to
> trumpet their generosity and for NGOs to show video of what they do).
> I would personally love to be involved in getting something of the sort
> under way and my individual focus would be the needs of Africa, so if
> anyone out there is reading this and thinks it's a viable idea, don't
> hesitate to reach me by e-mail. More so if you know of an initiative
> already under way!
>
> Thanks all!
>
> Peace
>
>
> Santiago
> ========================================
> >> On jan 4 Chris Tighe wrote:
> >>
> >> I must add my 5 cents worth to this argument about sendind TRS-80
> >> computers to Africa. For what it is worth, here is my humble
> >> opinion:........
> >>
> >> > .....3. Solution: A consortium of developers to set up a non-for-profit
> >> foundation to solicit computers and parts from Info Tech firms to be
> >> donated to countries in Africa and other countries......Companies
> >> benefit from the tax write-off, we benefit from being responsible,
> >> and countries benefit from the up-to-date-technology.
> >>
> > I think your consortium/foundation idea is good, the more donations
> >like this the better...It would be helpful in what we are doing too
> >to have a clearinghouse to be able to call, say what we need, and
> >hear about possible donors to contact. BTW, I do know the Boston
> >Computer Society (or a group affiliated in some way) does some of
> >this at least locally, for nonprofits. I imagine there are others
> >too in other locations. of at least one organization. Anyone with
> >info on groups doing this for overseas needs in particular?
> > Catherine Briggs Hanafi
> > Population Initiatives for Peace, Ltd
>
> --
> Santiago G. Hileret |
> Voice/Fax: (718) 858-1324
> 11 St. Felix St., #3F | Internet:
> mailto:styago@intercom.com
> Brooklyn, NY 11217-1205 |
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> 3rd World 1st!
>