Computers4Africa.org is a non-profit distributing computers in African countries
Title
Computers for Africa - bridging the digital divide
Description
Computers for Africa began in Nebraska in 2000 with an electrical engineer and a former missionary. Local charities were not interested in Omaha's low-end, still serviceable technology. Computers that once cost thousands of dollars, that still easily supported word processing, databases or spreadsheets, were being warehoused or melted down. It seemed such a waste. The vision of Computers for Africa began with the missionary's simple question, "What about Africa?"
One by one the questions were answered-enough to start a pilot program and test the concept. Within a year CFA found it could acquire, refurbish and successfully deliver the technological goods. Then began the process of networking sites with African sources of technological support. The chicken and egg problem. How could prospective rural communities find support for information and communication technology without having the technology in the first place? Surfing the net from Omaha, Nebraska, CFA gradually became a liaison between African providers and clients who needed them.
Slowly by slowly, as the African saying goes, the founders of Computers for Africa began realizing a vision. The missionary returned to Africa. The electrical engineer and his wife visited East Africa twice, learning from staff at CFA sites, assessing needs, and troubleshooting computer problems. Just as important, they listened to the stories of the people running the machines. The couple was interested in more than delivering the goods, the hardware. They wanted to develop friendships, partnerships that would engender viable technological solutions AND tell the personal and compelling stories of people on the other side of the world.
Contact
- Computers for Africa
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- Omaha NE
- United States 68134-0262
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- +1.4026145742
