I am seeking a donation of at least twenty [used] computers for a secondary school in Ghana, West Africa. These computers will be used provide computer literacy training to students and faculty. The school's current working computers will be donated to either to a nearby school that does not have computers or to a new community center that will be used for students from several schools in the town.
If you are interested, please ask your company/organization/university/etc if it is planning on replacing computers in the near future and what it intends to do with the old machines. Ideally, the school's goal of at least twenty computers can be reached with one or two suppliers, but if you can donate any machines please contact me.
Please also forward this email to anyone you think may be able to help. I would also be happy to appeal directly to someone that You recommend.
BACKGROUND: I am a Peace Corps Volunteer, serving as a computer teacher in Ghana. The school currently owns 18 computers, 80% of which generally work. The computers were either purchased by the PTA or donated. Some are quite old and outdated.
THE OPPORTUNITY: The government of Ghana and the African Development Bank (ADB) are currently funding a significant upgrading of the school campus, including the construction of a new computer center. A donation of upgraded computers would provide the school with a respectable computer lab. The donation will also benefit the community as the school administration has agreed to donate its current computers either to a nearby school that does not have any or to a new community center that will be used by students from several schools in the town. Plans for this new community center are still in the early stages, but a donation of computers will (hopefully) help speed the process.
TAX DEDUCTION: The school can provide a letter confirming the donation. Other arrangements can be made upon request.
CUSTOMS: I will work with Ghana's national education ministry to bypass customs fees.
SHIPPING: Lacking any information on the size of the shipment, I can not get a price quote, but after consulting another volunteer I expect shipping to be between $30 and $40 per computer (assuming the source is the US East Coast, but shipments come to Ghana from all parts of the world). The cost of shipping will either be a separate donation or will be paid for by the school. Shipping is obviously a critical detail. It will be worked out if and when I receive a commitment for a donation.
HELP NEEDED: If your business/organization/etc is able to donate computers, I will need a contact person that would be willing to spend some time on this project, potentially boxing the machines and working with the shippers.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Donated computers should be Pentium3 or above. Pre-installed software is not required but helpful. Monitors are not necessary, unless they are inexpensive to ship, such as LCD flat panel. Keyboards, mice, and power cables are very helpful. A digital projector would be fantastic.
SUSTAINABILITY/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: There is a school of thought that says giving handouts to developing countries is the wrong approach. While I believe this thinking has a lot of merit, I also think a donation of expensive equipment to an educational institution can be appropriate regardless of where that institution is located. In addition, the school has agreed to donate its current computers and will likely play some role in shipping. Plus, this donation is designed to take advantage of an investment being made by the national government of Ghana and the ADB. I'd be happy to continue this debate (currently with myself) in separate and private emails.
CORRUPTION: Unfortunately, it exists in Ghana and much of the rest of the world, including (oh my gosh!) the US. I have asked the administration whether computers are included in the budget for the school renovation and have been given a vague answer that a) these budgets are "flexible," meaning money can be moved around for different purposes within the budget, and b) just because the money is "guaranteed" today does not mean it will be there tomorrow. If I get a commitment for a donation, I will have the leverage to get a straight answer from the administration and will work to ensure that if there is money in the budget for computers it is re-purposed for something that Benefits the school and does not line someone's pockets. I'll try.
I ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO COMPUTERS TO DONATE: Thank you, but at this point I think the logistics will be much simpler if I can get all of the computers from one or two sources.
I ONLY HAVE ONE DIGITAL PROJECTOR TO DONATE: Great! We'll take it!
I HAVE THIRTY COMPUTERS. IS THAT TOO MANY?: Thank you. We will take them and distribute them to other schools and community centers.
I HAVE 25 MACS: Ha. Lucky you. Thank you, but we'll pass…
