We have well established, strong links with many of the local special needs schools and colleges like National Star College, Ruskin Mill, Belmont School and Alderman Knight School in Gloucestershire. We provide work experience placements for young adults with disabilities such as Asperger’s syndrome, autism and those suffering from mental and physical health problems. Working closely with their teachers and carers, ITSA offers individuals the chance to develop their social skills and become part of a relaxed working environment.  

Over a period of four weeks Ben and Murray, two students from the National Star College, completed a work placement at IT Schools Africa. During this time they worked closely and were supported by staff from IT Schools Africa.

Murray, a very technical minded student spent some time re-building computers and loading Windows 10 ready for them to be shipped to Africa. Ben, a more practical minded student made sure that the hard drives were wiped before sending them on for refurbishment. Both students thoroughly enjoyed their placements:

“I really enjoyed it, I already knew quite a bit about computers but I learnt a lot from Monis. I wish it could have gone on for longer”.  
commented Murray
​
As Ben is non verbal he rated his overall experience 10 out of 10. The tasks were set according to the student’s capabilities, skills and interests and were gauged very well. Students were kept busy for the entire placement and were challenged but not overwhelmed. 

"We would like to thank you for your support and hope very much that you also found the experience working with the college a positive one.  We hope very much that we can build on our relationship and work alongside you in the future".
Janet and Jonelle Job mentors
National Star College

​In partnership with the Naivasha Technical Training Institution (NTTI), we are able to facilitate learning through the provision of ICT for schools and businesses in the Rift Valley.

Access to ICT is helping to transform the lives of young individuals; including Joseph and Kelvin who are studying electrical engineering and banking/finance at college, but who were previously were living on the streets. Thanks to the NTTI both boys can now use their laptops for their studies.

We strive to continuously sustain our ambition of providing an inspired future for the younger generation of Africans, through the pathway of education. 

"In today’s digital economy, being able to use modern technology and navigate the Internet should be considered as important as English and Maths. But too many people struggle to get by." Karen Bradley MP

Digital exclusion is the inability to access online products or services or to use simple forms of digital technology. Lack of basic digital skills could include the ability to use a search engine to find information, complete online application forms, manage money or solve a problem using a digital service. This disproportionately affects vulnerable people, low-income groups, the elderly and the more marginalised communities in our society.

IT Schools Africa Community IT Outreach Programme is supporting local, grassroots community organisations and youth groups by donating good quality refurbished computers. We also help the local community with IT support, training and troubleshooting.

​At the Cornerstone Centre in Cheltenham many users asked for assistance with general IT skills, checking and sending emails, printing and using the internet. These users range from young to old. Many have additional needs, learning difficulties or suffer with mental health issues. In addition, children from the homework club benefit greatly from access to computers as they do not have access to computers at home.

GL11 Community Hub commented “At least 100 people use the donated computers each week, from young vulnerable children, people with mental health problems and disabled people. Your donation was truly invaluable to us."

We want to reduce digital exclusion in our community and develop the Community IT Outreach Programme.
Please contact  jenny@itschoolsafrica.org for an application form.

Since the opening of the e-learning centre in February 2017, at the Joseph Community Christian School there has been a significant increase in enrolment; 17 secondary and 20 new primary students are now enrolled. This is because parents are assured that their children can receive an education in ICT in their community, without having to send them to schools with facilities much further away.

The ratio of pupils to computers has dramatically decreased from twenty pupils to one computer to two pupils to one computer, allowing double the time each pupil spends receiving ICT education. The amount of time students spend per week on computers has doubled; each student now has access to ICT for three sessions per week.     

Before the e-learning centre was set up, the school couldn’t provide the national ICT exam for secondary students, however, after ITSA’s donation, 14 students have sat their exams, with 13 of them passing. This excellent pass rate is as result of the practical classes, allowing students and teachers to be more confident in the application of what they have learnt. The school were also able to let other local schools use the centre for exams, including a secondary school, which brought 14 students to write their mock exams and eight primary school pupils. 
​
The school has made effective use of the centre; as an internet café which has attracted local business people from small to medium enterprises, enabling them to submit their tax returns online, as well as provide the school with additional income. The community has high rates of teenage pregnancy, HIV and AIDS but the local government is promoting the school as a beacon of hope and success as the computer lab gives the community with prestige and improvements in the area. 

You can help us make more of these e-Learning centres a reality by donating equipment or money to our Computer lab appeal.

​In February this year we donated laptops to the Kambia Appeal and the Network for Rural Development (NRD - SL) for their computer training lab project; benefiting schools and the wider community in the district of Kambia, Sierra Leone. The objective of the computer lab is to empower young people, rural women and children to access basic and advanced computer training skills with the future aim of sustainable livelihoods.

​The computer training covers Windows, Excel, Word, Access, Publisher, PowerPoint and Internet Explorer. For the more advanced learners the understanding of computer use in a business world is included in the training.

After six months we were delighted to hear that 14 trainers have been trained and ​86 school girls and 26 school boys have completed the IT training. 
​
We hope to continue supporting this wonderful and invaluable project in the future.

In Africa IT skills are essential for young people to access better paid jobs. Furthermore, without an IT literate workforce, countries are less able to broaden their economy and access the benefits of the information revolution. 

Lack of IT literacy in Africa is also a barrier to further education, with students struggling to complete coursework and dissertations without being able to use computers. Some schools have such limited resources; one computer is shared between ten children, and other schools ask for broken machines just to explain the basic elements of computers to the children.

Over the last decade IT Schools Africa has been Improving education in Africa, working closely with our in-country partners to provide quality education to schools. 

We understand the needs of the schools; what the teachers want and importantly how we can help to improve the learning experience for children in Africa. 

Our computers have educational software pre-installed, ready for the teachers to use to make their lessons not only informative but also interesting and interactive for the students.  

Our e-Learning Centres are helping to give access to ICT education to more students than ever before. These projects are transforming IT Education for the students, increasing the number of children taking exams in the subject and improving the teaching of other subjects.  We now have 15 Centres in Malawi and Zambia, you can read more about them here.

We plan to further improve education in Africa through the development of projects to provide access to IT for vulnerable communities; for young, unemployed adults or adults that perhaps didn't get the chance to go to school. 

Q - What is your role at ITSA and how long have you held this position? 

Lucy - I’m the Overseas Operations Manager and I look after the African side of the charity, I’ve been in the role for over a year.  My job is to supervise the country programmes that we send our computers to.  I make sure that the equipment meets the needs of the schools in Africa in terms of quality and quantity.  It’s not just about providing computers, we also focus on the educational software as well as developing new projects that will provide greater access to schools and the local communities.
     
Q - What has been your proudest achievement during your time at ITSA?

Lucy - Probably seeing a shipment off to Zimbabwe after a gap of nearly three years.  Over the last six months we have been able to breathe some much needed life into our programme in Zimbabwe.  The programme had been near to closure due to the some issues with one of the local partners.  Now, after a few ups and downs we have restarted the programme and despite the gloomy economic situation in the country, demand for IT education is as high as ever.

Q - What did you do before your role at ITSA?

Lucy - I used to live in Zambia, where I had a variety of roles; managing a busy backpacker’s lodge, and as COO of a charity that focuses on education and local community projects.  I enjoyed both jobs immensely not least because I got to live in one of Africa’s most beautiful countries, based just 10kms away from the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls!

Q - What do you find most challenging about your role?

Lucy - As rewarding as it is seeing the impact the computers have, it can also be challenging to ensure that the entire process from donation to distribution is monitored at each stage.  Communication in particular can be difficult when trying to reach our partners in Africa, power cuts, expensive and poor Internet connection can hamper our best efforts to link up at times.

Q - How do you see the charity developing in the future? 

Lucy - To continue to provide high quality computers to schools in Africa, but also to extend our mission to new programmes and destinations.  To link with partners with similar goals to our own, to reach more people and ultimately to close the digital divide.

Thanks to a kind donation from Fondation Eagle and the hard work of our partner charity, Computers for Malawian Schools, another school in Malawi now has an e-Learning centre. 

Namikasi Secondary School is located in the Blantyre district and has a wide catchment area with almost 1,200 students attending - many travelling many miles to and from school.  Before the new computer lab was donated, the school had just 12 computers between 180 students. 

The donation from Fondation Eagle has given the students at Namikasi Secondary School the chance to gain an education in IT – a skill so relevant to us all in this day and age. 

The IT lab has been completely transformed with new desks, air conditioning and secure doors and windows to ensure the equipment is kept safe and protected. 

In total, the e-learning centre has 40 computers, 1 laptop and a digital projector. The equipment and purpose built space will make teaching and learning more enjoyable and productive for all.

Q - How did you first hear about ITSA? 

Mark - I was introduced to ITSA via a Work Programme experience offered by the DWP and I became a volunteer in February of 2016. 

Q - What type of tasks are you involved in at ITSA?

Mark - My initial task was to help in the office, making telephone calls to potential future donors to discuss the possibility of them giving their unused PC equipment to ITSA. 

Q - What is your favourite thing about being part of the ITSA team? 

Mark -  The collective efforts of everyone at ITSA mean that a computer's lifespan is extended for 5 years or more and children in Africa get a life changing opportunity to improve their future. No wonder everyone smiles every day at ITSA! Thank You ITSA for the experience.