Camara’s campaign to deliver modern technology & digital literacy skills to African schools

For less than the price of a premium smartphone app Irish/UK/US technology charity Camara is hoping to send hundreds of computers to disadvantaged schools in Africa with the launch of its Christmas campaign.

The charity is looking for donations of €15, £10 or $20 to help send computers to children in Africa in order to teach key digital literacy skills.  The charity says that these skills are vital to helping children in Africa break from the poverty trap and, when as they grow, gain vital employment in the technology and other sectors.

Since 2005 Camara has been refurbishing and redistributing computers to schools in Africa, Ireland and the Caribbean.  The charity also trains teachers to deliver courses through IT and provides technical support.

Camara’s campaign is designed to support many African economies’ efforts to become more technology and digitally focused; the charity says, “Africa is a continent full of potential and opportunity, with many countries having growing economies and a drive towards a digital future.  But the lack of access to computers in education means that Africa’s children will miss these opportunities and will not reach their full potential.”

As part of the campaign, individuals who sponsor a computer will be able to track it as it makes its way to Africa.  Sponsors will also be able to print off a card if they are sponsoring the computer as a gift for a friend.

Through previous campaigns the charity has delivered 35,000 computers to 1,650 learning centres and trained 5,000 teachers to help over 450,000 children learn vital IT skills.

According to the charity; “Each computer sponsored gives 21 children from disadvantaged areas the key 21st century gift of digital literacy. The gift gives children access to the technology and access to knowledge which we often taken for granted. It allows a child to reach their full potential, improve educational outcomes and break their cycle of poverty.”

The charity says that all donated funds will go directly to delivering computers to the schools.