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World Computer Exchange
Founded2000
Type501(c)(3)
FocusComputer reuse and education
Location
Employees2
Volunteers
300–400 active
Websiteworldcomputerexchange.org

World Computer Exchange (WCE) is a United States and Canada based charity organization whose mission is "to reduce the digital divide for youth in developing countries, to use our global network of partnerships to enhance communities in these countries, and to promote the reuse of electronic equipment and its ultimate disposal in an environmentally responsible manner." According to UNESCO, it is North America's largest non-profit supplier of tested used computers to schools and community organizations in developing countries.[1]

History

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WCE was founded in 1999 by Timothy Anderson.[2][3][4] It is a non-profit organization.[5] Its headquarters are in Hull, Massachusetts, and there are 15 chapters in the US and five in Canada.[6][7][8][9][10] In 2015, WCE opened a chapter in Puerto Rico.[11]

By November 2002, the organisation shipped 4,000 computers to 585 schools in many developing countries.[12]

By October, 2011, along with partner organizations, WCE has shipped 30,000 computers, established 2,675 computer labs.[13][14] In February 2012, the Boston Chapter sent out their 68th shipment bringing their total to 13,503 computers.[15]

Activities

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WCE provides computers and technology, and the support to make them useful in developing communities. WCE delivers educational content and curriculum on agriculture, health, entrepreneurship, water, and energy. The program also ensures that teachers will know how to use the technology and content by providing staff and teacher training, as well as ongoing tech support.[16]

Each chapter of WCE collects donated computers, refurbishes and prepares them for shipment. They also raise funds to ship the computers.[17][18][19][20][8] Volunteers inspect and repair each computer, then install the operating system and educational material onto each computer.[21][22]

WCE calls recipients of its computers "partners." The requests of computer donations originate from the partners. Once the refurbished computers and the funds to ship the computers are fulfilled, WCE initiates shipment. When possible, WCE coordinates shipments with other organizations, such as University of the People, Peace Corps,[23] Computers4Africa.org,[24] ADEA (Assoc. for the development of Education in Africa) and others.[25][26][27][28][29][30]

In June 2013, WCE Chicago chapter sent 400 computers to Mexico, and 300 to the Dominican Republic with help of 85 volunteers.[31]

In November 2015, WCE sent two Spanish speakers to visit Honduras for two weeks in 2015 to pilot tech skills training for youth under a contract with World Vision.[32]

The WCE Computers for Girls (C4G) initiative is field testing of eight tools to provide technological training and STEM education for interested teachers helping their girl students in four West African countries (Ghana, Liberia, Mali, and Zambia)[33] and Pakistan.[34]

In September 2016, World Computer Exchange-Puerto Rico and 4GCommunity.org, two not-for-profit corporations, have announced their alliance to improve public school and family access to technology where needed throughout Puerto Rico.[35]

eCorps

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To install computers at partner sites without access to experts, WCE recruits and supports volunteers from the USA under its eCorps initiative. To be eligible, volunteers must be 21 years of age, have necessary tech skills, and be prepared to self-fund their travel and accommodation expenses. 18 eCorps training teams have worked in Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.[32][36][37]

The eCorps "Travelers" program is geared towards those already planning to go to one of the countries in the WCE network, to provide tech support during their trip. 79 eCorps "Travelers" have visited the following 41 developing countries including: Armenia, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. In 2015, "Travelers" visited: Cambodia, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and South Africa.[32]

Computers

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WCE uses the Ubuntu operating system on their computers, citing the cost of license and being less prone to malware while providing a computing environment such as word processor and printer drivers.[38] Unlike One Laptop per Child, the computers do not contain specialized software. Each computer is loaded with educational materials to allow users to learn without an internet connection.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Computer Donation". Support for Resource Centres and Libraries. UNESCO Institute for Education. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Boston College Magazine » Winter 2011 » Works & Days » Net worker". Archived from the original on 2013-07-08. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  3. ^ Amanda Wills (2010-12-06). "Earth911 Holiday Charity Spotlight: World Computer Exchange". Earth911.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  4. ^ "Harvard Kennedy School - Classnotes". hks.harvard.edu. 2017-07-19. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  5. ^ "Charity Report - World Computer Exchange - give.org". give.org. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  6. ^ "Chapters". World Computer Exchange. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  7. ^ Williams, Chuck (2012-12-18). "Around Town". WilliamsReport.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  8. ^ a b "FCDW partners with World Computer Exchange". fcdigitalworkshop.com. [dead link‍]
  9. ^ "- CougSync at Washington State University - Pullman". wsu.campuslabs.com. Archived from the original on 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  10. ^ "World Computer Exchange of the Palouse". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  11. ^ "Puerto Rico Online". prcorpfiling.f1hst.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  12. ^ Norr, Henry; Writer, Chronicle Staff (2002-11-16). "New life for old PCs / Nonprofit group collects donated computers to aid students in developing nations". SFGate. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  13. ^ "Winston Center welcomes World Computer Exchange president founder". thebcobserver.com. [dead link‍]
  14. ^ "About Us". World Computer Exchange. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  15. ^ "Boston Chapter". World Computer Exchange. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  16. ^ "EdTech for the Third World: Tech Tools". George Washington University Institute for Public Policy and Global Communication. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 25 July 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  17. ^ "Boston Cares". bostoncares.secure.force.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  18. ^ "Volunteer Form". World Computer Exchange. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  19. ^ "Electronics recycling". MNN - Mother Nature Network. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  20. ^ "Organizations Donating Used Laptops to Developing Nations". artsdigitalera.com. 2013-02-11. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013.
  21. ^ "VMware Foundation - Employees Give Back - The World Computer Exchange". VMware Careers. 2011-11-21. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  22. ^ "Chicago Chapter". World Computer Exchange. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  23. ^ "Grants and Funding". playbook.peacecorpsict4d.org. 2016-03-03. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  24. ^ "technology | website". www.computers4africa.org. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  25. ^ Infatuated_w_culture (2009-04-23). "Where in the world is Claire?: You obviously know the value of a computer". Where in the world is Claire?. Archived from the original on 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  26. ^ Stoermer, Danielle (2011-08-18). "Agent Stoermer in Senegal: Expanding students' worlds with books and computers". Agent Stoermer in Senegal. Archived from the original on 2018-05-19. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  27. ^ "World Computer Exchange". uopeople.org. 2013-10-04. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  28. ^ "iEARN and World Computer Exchange team up on eCorps program". iearn.org. Archived from the original on 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  29. ^ "CHILDREN CARE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION: History". envaya.org. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  30. ^ "World Computer Exchange Provides Computers, Training to Mexican Children | San Miguel de Allende | Atención San Miguel". Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  31. ^ "Chicago Group Sending 700 Computers To Kids In Latin America". 2013-06-07. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  32. ^ a b c "eCorps Training Trips". worldcomputerexchange.org. Archived from the original on 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  33. ^ "4 Girls". World Computer Exchange. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  34. ^ "Computers for Girls: Pakistan". worldcomputerexchange.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-03. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  35. ^ "Non-profit alliance works to improve access to technology in Puerto Rico". caribbeannewsnow.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  36. ^ "Bryan Barton | Volunteer Forever | Volunteer Abroad Fundraising & Program Reviews". www.volunteerforever.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  37. ^ "eCorps Nicaragua 2012". worldcomputerexchange.org. Archived from the original on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  38. ^ "Why Ubuntu". worldcomputerexchange.org. Archived from the original on 2012-12-27. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
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