Camara, an Irish charity that specialises in the delivery of technology solutions to schools in under-resourced areas in Africa and Ireland acknowledge the problem of e-waste that has sparked this campaign. This problem, which was further highlighted in a UN Report, indicating that global e-waste is growing by about 40 million tons a year, much of which is being dumped in developing countries.
As a result of this, African countries such as Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda are implementing a ban on the importation of used IT equipment, albeit in varying degrees.
Uganda was the first to impose the ban in June 2009, but has since overturned its total ‘blanket’ ban in favour of a more moderate stance, ensuring a minimum specification standard is in place that will guarantee the cost-effectiveness of pre-owned equipment entering the country.
Countries like Kenya and Rwanda are also considering the ban, but while Kenya is most likely to take a more measured approach, Rwanda has completely banned all used computers until a more favourable decision is reached.
Commenting on the decision, Camara’s CEO, Cormac Lyncha said: “There is no doubt that the availability of affordable, refurbished computers increases access to ICT in the developing world, especially for those in the lower economic strata. Even if schools were to purchase new computers, this often means having to sacrifice more essential elements such as training and infrastructure needed to make sure the computers last.”
Since it began in 2005, Camara have sent nearly 19,000 computers to 925 schools benefiting around 200,000 teachers and children who are now computer literate.
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