Press Releases
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PRESS RELEASE JOHANNESBURG and LONDON — 13th August 2007 — Digital Links International, the largest European charity providing computers to African schools, today launched its South African office. The new operation based in Johannesburg will provide increased resources to develop computer projects in schools throughout the country. The launch took place at the Inanda Club with presentations from the Chairman of Digital Links International in London, Sir Paul Judge, and the UK Trade Commissioner, Brian Gallagher. Sir Paul said: “Digital Links has already provided computers for a quarter of all secondary school pupils in Kenya and we look forward to working with organisations in South Africa to bring the same benefits to students here. Information technology transforms teaching and learning and opens up a whole new world of opportunities, often for the most disadvantaged.” Digital Links was founded with the vision of providing IT to communities in the developing world. In the past four years it has provided 1,5 million people with their first experience of technology. Working in 22 countries through Africa, DLI is also at the forefront of the solar and wireless technologies that makes connectivity possible in rural areas. In South Africa, Digital Links already operates projects across Limpopo, in 19 schools in Giyani and another in Thabazimbi. Further projects are also under consideration with Johnnic’s Learning Channel, MTN, Ma Afrika Tikkun, Microsoft, EDS and in Lesotho with the Sentebale Trust, established by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso. “South Africa is an excellent base to build and manage our projects and develop partnerships with local organisations to ensure that the work we do has maximum impact. Especially now that we have the partnerships in place that allow us to offer computers for around $3 per beneficiary,“ says Kerryn Krige, who heads up the new office in Johannesburg. “There is no doubt that computers have transformed our environment. Other surrounding schools look to us and our successes with envy,” says teacher Finn Mazibuko from Hivuyeriwile High in Limpopo. “I see the change in pupils – in their confidence as their literacy, their comprehension and numeracy improves. The power of technology cannot be underestimated in isolated environments like ours” “My computer has opened my world, it explains everything to me” says 16 year old Mtileli Champion, in his final year of school. “Our textbooks only tell me little bits of information. Our teachers sometimes don’t know the experiments. But my computer knows everything. My computer has made my school lessons understandable” Technology is recognised as the most affordable and effective means to improve education standards in underdeveloped countries. Loaded with offline encyclopaedias and e-books, computers give both pupils and teachers instant access to reference libraries. Curriculum software allows pupils to learn interactively and at their own pace and teachers to set assessments and improve their subject knowledge. In South Africa, where many pupils do not have enough text books and teachers are not always fully qualified, the impact of technology is particularly significant. In its efforts to improve education, Digital Links is pulling together organisations from across South Africa to contribute to building computer centres, particularly in rural schools. If each company, governmental or parastatal organisation with over 500 employees donated R8,000 to build a computer laboratory in schools, the education landscape would swiftly tranform. A company with 500 employees will have at least 800 school pupils as the children of those employees - for a nominal R16 per employee, Digital Links can initiate a technology revolution which will tackle literacy, learning methods and teacher edcuation whilst developing cultures of entrepreneurship and opportunity. “South Africa is a flagship country for Digital Links in Africa,“ says Kerryn Krige. “Many companies have already put their weight behind the initiative to set up projects in urban and rural areas. We shall now be making computers available for other NGOs and schools throughout the country. This is an ideal way for South African business to get involved in delivering community projects.” Digital Links projects in South Africa will be overseen by its new board. Trustees include: PRESS RELEASE Technology charity Digital Links have welcomed Microsoft’s announcement that they will provide Windows packages for just £1.50 to schools in some of the world’s poorest nations. Digital Links CEO David Sogan said: “This is a great leap forward, although schools have had access to low-cost operating systems in the past, this will enable access to the software pupils really need to be experienced in if they want to go into further education or find jobs”. Sogan goes on to say “As this Windows package also includes educational software (such as maths) the impact on education provision will be profound” However, a software package can’t run on thin air, developing nations, particularly in Africa, are in desperate need of good quality reliable computers. Digital Links, together with British companies and schools, can help to provide the PCs needed for these countries to take advantage of the cut-price Microsoft package. Digital Links take redundant computers and refurbish them for reuse in the developing world, and can get a computer refurbished and installed into an African school for as little as £50 per PC. With grave doubts remaining about the feasibility and practicality of the $100-per-child laptop, this is a tried and tested method of helping children in the world’s poorest nations to bridge the digital divide. Research has demonstrated that every Digital Links computer in a school is used by an average of 25 children each week, meaning the cost per child is just a shade over £2.00 each. Sogan says: “Donating through Digital Links really is a win-win situation for all concerned. As well as providing feedback to donors and enabling them to limit their carbon footprint by extending the life of their PCs, we also ensure that data is irretrievably wiped from all machines.”Technology Charity Hits Back: Donating PCs Through Us is 100% Safe The issue of data security has once again become a huge cause for concern. A BBC investigation has found that PCs containing important personal data, and even banking information, are turning up in markets in developing countries. The matter was discussed on BBC Five Live this morning, and a special investigation will be screened on the BBC's Real Story tonight. Technology charity Digital Links International welcomes the fact that this important issue has again been raised, because guaranteed data erasure has always been a cornerstone of their commitment to donors. However, it's important for companies to remember that they can benefit from a completely professional IT disposal service and donate PCs. CEO David Sogan says: "In donating redundant computers to benefit developing countries companies don't need to compromise on the quality of service they receive. At Digital Links we work in partnership with professional refurbishment companies to ensure absolute security and environmental excellence for our donors" Digital Links use Government-approved software and provide data destruction certification to all donors. In addition to providing top of the range data erasure Digital Links also ensure that all equipment is processed to the best environmental standards. They are already fully WEEE compliant and any equipment that fails their tests is completely recycled. Digital Links' processes are so rigorous that they have been used to process PCs of organisations for which the security of data is of the utmost importance, they include: The Department for International Development, Bupa, FTSE and several NHS hospitals. The PC donations from these and other donors have enabled the organisation to distribute 45,000 PCs to schools and community centres in developing countries, providing dramatically improved opportunities for over a million young people, and ensuring complete security for their donors. PRESS RELEASE The WEEE Directive, which comes into force on 1st July 2007, aims to reduce the amount of electrical waste going into landfill. Technology charity Digital Links is warning that this Directive could in fact encourage the waste of millions of reusable computers. The Waste Electrical Equipment Directive places the responsibility for disposing of redundant electrical equipment on the manufacturers. For business users, this means the manufacturer of their new computers is also responsible for disposing of the old ones. Reuse is recognised as by far and away the best form of recycling. This is especially true of computers, which are incredibly materials intensive to produce: the manufacture of just one desktop PC uses 1.8 tons of raw materials, which includes 240 kilograms of fossil fuels. There are now new concerns about how effective this new Directive will be in encouraging reuse, as Digital Links CEO David Sogan explains: Aside from being a huge waste of resources, the legislation is also likely to affect the millions of African schoolchildren that are benefiting from the donation of redundant computers through charities such as Digital Links International. The charity take computers from UK companies, refurbish them, and place them into schools across the developing world. In addition to providing all-important computer skills, PCs in schools open up incredible educational opportunities, offering access to free or low cost educational software in place of non-existent or hopelessly out of date textbooks. Companies disposing of their old computers can, however, save their redundant computers from the crushing machine, and help improve lives in the process, as Sogan explains: In addition, companies purchasing new PCs could negotiate a discount from suppliers in return for disposing of PCs themselves, and would also be ensured guaranteed and certified data erasure when donating though Digital Links. Digital Links is urging people to find out what happens to the old computers in their office, and help to save millions of PCs from an early grave. PRESS RELEASE Digital Links welcome the news that some electronics firms are starting to clean up their act with regards the chemicals used in the manufacture of their products. Lenovo tops the league, with Apple busy protesting their innocence whilst languishing at the bottom. But David Sogan, CEO of Digital Links – a charity that refurbish redundant computers for reuse in developing countries, asks: “what are these companies are doing to ensure the maximum lifespan of their computers? Computers use an enormous amount of raw materials in their manufacture - 1.5 tons, the weight of a rhinoceros*, so it is essential that computers are used for as long as possible. Reuse is the best form of recycling and companies that donate their old computers through Digital Links can help to ensure this happens” Of course, these electronics companies are not likely to try and encourage consumers to use items for longer. Digital Links is not asking them to do this. But they do want to know why manufacturers and consumers aren’t doing more to ensure that discarded yet fully functional computers aren’t wasted. Sogan says * This includes 240 kilograms of fossil fuels (the equivalent of a car travelling from London to Glasgow 4 times). Notes for Editors - It’s not all bad news: British Educational software and hardware supplier RM is aware of its environmental and social responsibilities and has provided well over 10,000 PCs to Digital Links for reuse in African schools PRESS RELEASE Digital Links, the organisation that urge British companies to "Save a PC" by donating redundant computers for redeployment in the developing world, has just sent it’s 50,000th PC to Africa. The 50,000th PC was one of 200 systems that has set sail destined for reuse in Ghana’s schools. Digital Links’ Chairman, Sir Paul Judge, says: "This is a real landmark for Digital Links which in the last four years has become the largest charity provider of computers from Europe to Africa. Following the launch of our Project 10-20-10 last November by Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for International Development, we are now focussed on reaching 10 million African schoolchildren by 2010. This will require us to build on our current success and to work with our existing and with new partners to distribute another 300,000 computers over the next four years. We shall consequently make a huge difference to the life chances of young people in many African countries." A computer in an African school is used by approximately 25 children each week. This means that PCs donated through Digital Links have benefited around 125,0000 people, as well as diverting well over a million kilograms of waste from landfill. The 50,000th PC is on its way to ICT NGO Ghana, an organisation that provide schools with computer suites, fully supported with training and maintenance. ICT NGO Ghana has already computerised 60 schools, and the 50,000th PC will soon be being used in a school in Ghana, where it will improve education delivery and provide the computer skills so essential in today’s world. Disposing of old PCs through Digital Links is a fantastic opportunity for people to benefit from an essential service at the same time as helping others. The organisation provides a complete IT disposal service to UK schools and companies. Their IT disposal service is fully compliant with all environmental and data protection legislation, and they provide guaranteed and certified data erasure of each and every PC. Proper disposal of computers has become a hot issue in light of ever increasing data fraud and environmental requirements. The organisation urgently require more schools and companies to donate their redundant PCs, to help improve the lives of people such as Nomathemba Ngikelana, A Digital Links PC user in South Africa. After being given her first access to ICT she wrote to Digital Links to say "How glad am I to know that there is so much to learn from this little box…..It has changed my life and brought the whole world to me" PRESS RELEASE While the NHS struggles with the implementation of its multi-billion pound IT refresh, spare a thought for hospitals in Moldova, Europe’s poorest country, many of which run without access to a single computer. A lack of IT affects most areas of a hospital’s operations, including diagnostics, training, record-keeping as well as isolating Moldovan doctors from the wealth of information available on the web. Technology charity Digital Links International are helping the Moldovan Ministry of Health to computerise hospitals and health centres by providing low cost refurbished computers donated by UK companies. Digital Links is a charity that provides an IT disposal service to UK companies and refurbishes the PCs for reuse in the developing world. Their service includes guaranteed and certified data erasure and compliance with all current and upcoming legislation. The Moldovan project has received an enormous boost from BUPA, who have agreed to provide £25,000 to cover the cost of providing 800 refurbished computers. This will provide computers for 30 medical institutions in Moldova, including: hospitals, primary care centres, laboratories, and medical schools. BUPA, who also donate all their redundant computers to Digital Links, sponsored 200 PCs for Moldovan hospitals in early 2006. Mark Ralf, Group Purchasing Director at BUPA and Chairman of BUPA Giving, said “BUPA is thrilled that these computers will help to improve the health services for the people of Moldova”. Professor Ababii, the Moldovan Minister of Health expressed his gratitude to Digital Links and BUPA, saying the computers would be used for a range of institutions including the medical university, the main hospitals and primary care clinics throughout the country. "The computers will help us to greatly improve both the training of doctors and the operation of our healthcare system". Please click here to go back to our computer recycling page.
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