| Project: |
| Computer Refurbishing |
| Project Name: |
| ComputerAid |
| User Group Name: |
| Melbourne PC User Group |
| Location: |
| Melbourne, Australia |
| WHAT we do |
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Project Description: Acquire and refurbish computers which are then sent to Third World countries through the network of World Vision. Others are donated to local charities and volunteer groups who request them. |
| In the three years of operation, ComputerAid has completed around 1,000 units - equivalent to a charity donation of $350,000 US! |
| Last year World Vision presented a special award to Melb PC for its members' activities and contribution towards creating a better world. |
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How we will use award money: To reach out to the community - particularly businesses and corporations - so as to ensure a more steady flow of redundant computers, which can be upgraded by our very keen volunteers. |
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HOW we do what we do Melb PC members work in a factory space lent by an unemployment-training provider, Recruitnet and their division, Com IT. Our members use their expertise to select, examine and upgrade the computers. They clean out previous software and freshly install systems to the requested specifications. |
| This often requires considerable rebuilding, cannibalising, repairing - and lots of problem-solving. Because of the ideal space provided by Recruitnet, our members have the freedom to come and work at a time which suits them. Many are retirees, others work on days off. There is a strong spirit of camaraderie and mutual support between our members, also extending to the unemployed people sent to the facility by government agencies for skills-training and work experience. |
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PROBLEMS dealt with The worse thing you could do to a remote community is inflict on them a poor quality or inadequate computer. We therefore have had to set standards for any equipment we accept - a 200 Mhz Pentium with VGA screen is the minimum. |
| Because it is dependant on changing labour requirements and contracts, Recruitnet has had to reduce its staff and activities. This puts a lot more responsibility on our members to work closely and cooperatively with them - and not be a burden on a stressed facility. |
| A great many of the donations received at the workshop end up in the scrap bin. This then costs a lot of money to dump. We are therefore in the unfortunate position of having to ask for cash donations when units are brought in. The load is spread to bring this down to about $4 a monitor (the biggest problem), however some donors are not happy with the request - we have had to learn diplomatic skills to deal with this. |
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FUTURE - the major task Getting a steady flow of units. If the input was more steady, the members' work force would grow and be more predictable. We are working with World Vision to increase the flow of machines from corporate upgrades. These tend to be younger, better maintained, more homogeneous machines. But we are up against the second-hand market! |
| However despite the ups and downs, the members continue to come, reliably, and the operation has developed its own energy and dynamism. We are confident that it will continue to grow - and play its own role in the vital assistance for third-world countries. |
| To see the history of the project, read the article at http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/2310/2310article11.htm. |
| There is more about the project in the following stories: |
| http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/2308/2308article10.htm |
| http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/2206/2206article9.htm |
| http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/2206/2206article8.htm |
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SPECIFICATIONS Donations of Computerware |
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Computer hardware (complete systems or parts) is welcomed, but please note the
minimum requirements below, as older equipment is obsolete and unusable. Processor: Pentium 200 Mhz Motherboard: Zero Insertion Force socket RAM: 72-pin Monitor: Colour, SVGA, working Keyboard and Mouse: Good condition, working Printer: Dot matrix or Bubblejet with currently available ribbons/ink cartridges |
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THE ORGANISATION Melbourne PC User Group Inc is 20 years old this November. With 11,000 members it is the biggest PC group in Australia, and one of the biggest in the world. |
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COMPUTERAID A Special Interest Group within Melb PC. It has an active membership of around 50, with a core of 20 and the others coming and going as they wish. |
| Skills vary greatly, from expert engineers to rank beginners. We have developed an on-job supervision and training system, making sure that there is at least one knowledgeable member on each shift. We work four days a week, Monday to Thursday, from 10am to 4pm, most weeks of the year. |