Following successful ‘used computer collection' events in South Gloucestershire in 2007 and 2008, Cheltenham-based charity IT Schools Africa (ITSA), the Rotary Club of Severn Vale and Tesco stores at Stroud and Quedgeley in south Gloucestershire, reunite once again to collect computers for Africa on Saturday 10 January.

ITSA will send the donated computers to Africa, where they will be used for IT education and to promote cross-cultural communication.  

Neil Southwell, a spokesperson for Rotary at Severn Vale said: ‘We are delighted to once again be supporting IT Schools Africa and the fantastic work that ITSA do on the continent.  We in the UK take computing capacity for granted and sometimes forget the valuable benefits that such items bring from an educational and social development perspective.

‘We at the Rotary club of Severn Vale like the fact that ITSA ensure that any equipment they receive is totally wiped of any data already existing on the donated PC,' Southwell continued, ‘and that they then re-furbish the items in order that they can be used for many years to come.  We had a remarkable response to the collection last year and hope that the local Severn Vale community can repeat this in 2009.'

Having collected the computers, the Rotary team will deliver them to ITSA's warehouse in Leckhampton where they will be recycled before shipping to Africa.

‘We are very grateful for the ongoing support of Rotary at Severn Vale,' says Tim Barnes, Project Director for ITSA. ‘Without their help it can be difficult for people in this southern part of Gloucestershire to get to our Cheltenham warehouse so organising a local collection facility at Stroud and Quedgeley is an invaluable support. I would also like to thank the Stroud and Quedgeley Tesco stores for providing the collection points again.'

Used computers should be dropped at the relevant supermarket's recycling facility.  All computers should be Pentium III or above and in working order. Monitors should be 15" or 17". Printers and scanners unfortunately CANNOT be accepted.   

If you can't make it on the 10^th, you can drop your used computers at IT Schools Africa, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm: Unit 8, Mead Park Industrial Estate, Cheltenham GL53 7EF

For more information please contact Tim Barnes at IT Schools Africa:

01242 228800; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it