Our Computer Aid 2004 appeal launches

this week begins its appeal to help people in developing countries gain technology skills - and we need your help.

Working with specialist charity Computer Aid International, our aim is to recondition and deliver 25,000 used PCs by the end of the year.

We're asking the UK's IT directors to donate their old PCs to Computer Aid so they can have a second life in the developing world.

As many as two million working Pentium PCs are dumped in landfill sites in the UK every year.

Meanwhile, 99 per cent of schoolchildren in Africa graduate without having touched or seen a computer in the classroom.

'Our problem isn't having a winning argument, it's getting access to the decision-makers in the large companies - and that's where Computing's readers come in,' said Tony Roberts, director of Computer Aid International.

Companies such as British Airways have already made donations to Computer Aid.

'BA was looking to recycle redundant computer equipment in a cost effective, environmentally friendly manner, but by working with Computer Aid we achieve what we think is the best form of recycling - reuse,' said Franc Fruzza, BA international IT account manager.

'Computer Aid is then given thousands of devices that can be used to benefit communities in developing countries.'

IT directors that would like to be involved should email us at computeraid@computing.co.uk.