Government department donates 1,000 laptops to Africa

Department for International Development systems to be given to universities and training colleges by charity Computer Aid

The laptops will be used in schools

The Department for International Development (DFID) is donating more than 1,000 laptops to UK charity Computer Aid International to be re-used in Africa.

The laptops will be given to universities and training colleges after having their data wiped.

Simon Jones, chief information officer at DFID, said the department supported the work of Computer Aid.

"We pass on our surplus equipment safe in the knowledge that it will have a second life helping to reduce poverty," he said. "But there is an added bonus in that these donations help us to meet our environmental obligations as we know their disposal will be carefully controlled."

Public sector organisations now have to dispose of their IT in accordance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive – which means either recycling or re-using old kit.

Computer Aid is licensed by the Environment Agency as an Authorised Approved Treatment Facility to handle old electronic equipment.

The charity has provided more than 140,000 PCs and laptops to support e-learning, e-health, e-inclusion and e-agriculture projects in developing countries.

Computer Aid founder Tony Roberts said IT plays a vital role in economic growth and education.

"This is integral in enabling the UN to reach its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The eighth MDG specifically advocates provision of IT, but this will in turn dramatically impact the progression of other goals, such as poverty-reduction, combating disease and achieving universal primary education, " he said.