Close the Gap Bridging the digital divide

Close the GapBridging the digital divide

A sustainable new lifecycle for used ICT in education

Mission

International organisation that helps bridging the digital divide

by giving used computers a second life.

Case

• Goal: Providing quality refurbished hardware for secondary schools in Uganda

• Local Partners: Computers for Schools Uganda, Schoolnet Uganda, Uconnect

Way of working: a 3 step process

1. Material donation and refurbishment

2. Implementation

3. End-of-second life treatment through recycling

Material donation and Refurbishment

Process

Logistics

Organised through partners– KLM CARGO, when possible– Cargo: plane & boat– Partnership with NGO’s

Implementation

• In collaboration with local service partners

– Delivery– Software configuration, installation & Maintenance– Training: technical and pedagogical– Reporting– E-Waste Collection

Recycling• Sustainable solution to close the 2nd lifecycle• Regional approach (EAC)

– Regional Recycling Centre (Nairobi)– Local collectors

• Tier 1 recycling locally: dismantling, recycling non-hazardous fractions and volume reduction

• Tier 2 recycling of hazardous components in Europe

Key factors and Challenges

• Government: policies and curriculum development

• Service partners: strong relations and capacity building

• e-Waste sensitization and collection

Questions?

www.close-the-gap.org

“The importance of information technologies for educational use cannot be underestimated. It gives developing countries the opportunity to skip an

entire generation of infrastructure by going directly to internet technology. I strongly believe in partnerships, in joining forces and in together making this

world a better place, where opportunities can be seized by everyone.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Thanks for your attention