Advertisement
Promo

Green IT Toolkit

Green IT

Donated PCs become African multimedia centres Camera icon

Andrew Donoghue ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 14 Sep 2007 16:48 BST

  • Email
  • Trackback
  • Clip Link
  • Print friendly
  • Post Comment

Next

Previous

1 2 3 4 5


scroll left
scroll right

(Photo credit: Glenn Edwards)

The issue of what to do with the growing mountain of discarded CRT monitors is one of the major environmental challenges facing an IT industry that is struggling to improve its green credentials. Lead-filled CRTs present a particular problem in that they have been superseded by slimmer LCD alternatives — although the jury is still out on what disposal issues may be in wait when it comes to these devices — which means no-one wants them, even in developing countries such as Kenya.

Computers For Schools Kenya (CFSK) is an NGO that works with UK charities, such as Computer Aid, to take PCs that are no longer up to the rigours of Vista and other processor-intensive applications and redistribute them to schools and colleges in the developing world. The charity, which has just moved to larger premises on the outskirts of Kenya's capital city, Nairobi, has come up with a ingenious way of ensuring that CRTs can be redeployed in the same efficient way that the main PC units are dealt with by the organisation.

Nothing is wasted by CFSK. In its five-year history, the organisation has sent some 10,000 reconditioned PCs to Kenyan schools and other deserving institutions.

  • Email
  • Trackback
  • Clip Link
  • Print friendlyPrint with EPSON

Did you find this article useful?
9 out of 10 people found this useful


Full Talkback thread

0 comments


More in this Special Report

Old laptops transform lives of Africa's blind

Old laptops transform lives of Africa's blind

USB sticks and donated laptops from UK businesses are allowing African students access to the previously closed world of higher education more

Donated PCs become African multimedia centres

Donated PCs become African multimedia centres

Computers for Schools Kenya is taking PCs that no longer cut it in UK enterprises and giving them a new lease of life in African schools more

HP backs African recycling research

HP backs African recycling research

The technology vendor is working with partners on improving the safety and environmental impact of electronic waste-recycling in the region more

A Canadian solution to Africa's digital divide

A Canadian solution to Africa's digital divide

The concept of refurbishing PCs from developed countries for use by Kenyan schools is based on a model conceived in a very different climate more

CRT monitors given a second life in Africa

CRT monitors given a second life in Africa

Edwin Martins from Computers for Schools Kenya explains how the IT charity is turning donated CRT monitors from UK organisations into televisions. more

Company/Topic Alerts

Create a new alert from the list below:









Video icon

Video

Discussions

hkommedal hkommedal

I have this funny feeling that Goebbel...

Saturday 21 November 2009, 10:45 PM

2 comments
Simon Bisson and Mary Branscombe Simon Bisson and Mary Branscombe

indeed

Saturday 21 November 2009, 7:26 PM

9 comments
mdgreaney mdgreaney

From a resident

Saturday 21 November 2009, 7:23 PM

4 comments
Tezzer Tezzer

Small Business?

Saturday 21 November 2009, 6:38 PM

2 comments

Skip Sub Navigation Links to CNET Brand Links

Help

Become part of the ZDNet community.

Newsletters