News and events 

Cap Gemini donates 800 computers

Cap Gemini donates 800 computers to Computers for Development (CFD) to be distributed in Africa in collaboration with SISO. CFD provides the contacts in Africa and is responsible for the implementation of the projects. The three organisations share the main goal to improve access to IT-education for young people in developing countries.
A seminar is organized on May 29th: 'Bridging the Digital Gap between Europe and Africa', where corporate social responsibility is one of the topics being discussed. You can register for free at: http://www.siso.nl/bridging_the_digital_gap.htm

Shipment to Kenya

In april 80 laptops and 180 pc's were shipped to Kenya. Our partner organisation Computers for Schools Kenya (CFSK) will install the computers in schools in different locations in Kenya. Trainers have been trained by CFSK. The shipment was financed by Safaricom Kenya, a provider of mobile network services in Kenya. The laptops were donated by Postkantoren BV, the pc's by Alliance and Kruidvat.

Computers to slums in Nairobi

Computers for Development sends 30 computers to a resource centre in the slums of Nairobi. This centre is set up by 'Stichting Union, meer dan voetbal'. They work together with MYSA, Mathare Youth Sports Association. This organisation runs a great number of projects for youth in slums. MYSA has a very informative website: www.mysakenya.org

School in Eastern Uganda receives computers

In February 30 computers were sent with the foundation You4Uganda. They place these computers on the only school with electricity in the region. Later, students from surrounding schools in the Kisoro area will also get access to the computers. Information on this foundation can be found on www.uforuganda.nl

CFD in Harry Mens' Business Class

On the 17th of December the director of CFD, Millicent Odongo, was one of the guests in Business Class. For CFD this is good publicity in the ICT and logistic sector. We explained how we can play a role in socially responsible entrepreneuring. The programme was broadcast on the 17th of December and can be watched on the Business Class website .(www.rtl.nl/financien/businessclass)

CFD on TV

Lokaal Mondiaal has made a short film on the work of Computers for Development. It will be broadcast on Rotterdam TV on December 8th at 6.30 pm. Watch this if you want to hear more about our work and it's relation to the UN Millennium Development Goals. For information about Lokaal Mondiaal go to www.lokaalmondiaal.net.

Kenya contact day

Computers for Development will participate in the Kenya contact day on the 25th of November (Rotterdam). This day is organized for NGO’s and volunteers who are active in Kenya, to share experiences and knowledge. There are workshops, African food and music and a speech of the Kenyan ambassador in the Netherlands. If you are active in Kenya and interested to join in, please contact info@sosurwo.nl.

Computers to Ghana

Last month we sent 30 computers to Ghana (September 2006). The computers will be placed in the Educational Resource Centre of Takoradi in Western Ghana, which is supported by To Be Worldwide. Logistics were financed with donations of De Wilde Ganzen. Read more on this centre on the website of To Be Worldwide (www.tobeworldwide.org).

Somalia interested in PC's

Computers for Development and Nedsom investigate possibilities for collaboration. Nedsom is a foundation set up by Somalians living in the Netherlands. It is currently settting up a training centre in the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu. Computers for Development will take care of computers and ICT training. As a result a new country might be on board soon!

Ex-change and CFD collaboration

Ex-change and Computers for Development have agreed upon collaboration, providing internships in Africa to Dutch ICT students. Both NGO’s meet each other in the training of trainers in ICT installations, maintenance and support. We are preparing the first students to leave for an internship in Kenya.

Computers for Development presents itself with an own stand at the biggest ICT and networking event in The Netherlands (Amsterdam RAI). TINE 2006 is held from April 26 - April 28, 2006.

In October 2005 Sher Agencies Airlifted 500 Computers in corporation with Cargolux Luxembourg to Kenya. The computers were received by Computers For Schools Kenya (CFSK), in Nairobi. The PCS were destined for use by several public schools under the CFSK programme. [more...]

October 2005: partnership CFD and NTS

Computers For Development wishes to announce that as of October 2005, a partnership between CFD and NTS was formalised in Amsterdam. Within the partnership CFD received a free office accommodation from NTS premises in Rotterdam as well as support with the office move from Amsterdam to Rotterdam with the help of NTS staff. 

CFD, only one year old; yet it has already achieved a lot. This report introduces the CFD strategy and main activities, it describes some projects that CFD supported in 2004, and it provides a pictorial glimpse into the work of CFD. There is still so much to be done. Please read through to learn about our activities in 2004 and plans for 2005 and beyond. [Click here to read the full Annual report 2004]

We are very greatful to Atos Origin (www.derdewereldfonds.nl) who have joined our list of sponsors. They have contributed financially. The money will be for the support of a refurbishing centre in Western Kenya serving the districts Kisumu, Kakamega, Siaya and Busia. The project is aimed at supporting primarily school children between the ages of 14 and 21 as well as the entire communities to acquire ICT knowlegde and improvement of education and information facilities. CFSK (`Computers for Schools Kenya`) is a partner in this project. [more...]

Our partner in Cameroon ADAF who take care of placing and installing the computers in several schools.

In July 210 pc's where shipped to Niger. Our partner is the UNDP, the United Nations Development Programme for multimedia projects in schools.

130 personal computers were shipped to Uganda. Our partner in Uganda is Brosdi (Busoga Rural Open Source Development Initiatives). It is an NGO in Uganda that is involved in community development by empowering the civil society through use of appropriate ICT mediums.

We are proud to announce the addition of Mrs Thea Fierens to the Board of Recommendations for Computers for Development.

Mrs Fieren’s work with the education of young people began in the early years of the 1970s in Den Haag and Leiden.  Shortly thereafter, she continued her work as a sociologist, trainer and relations manager for the “Landeljke Vereneging van Wereldwinkels”.

During the 1980’s, Mrs Fieren begun her work with SNV, the Netherlands Development Organization, which uses a capacity-building approach for the empowerment of the world’s poor and disadvantaged.  By focusing on meso-level organizations in society, SNV helps people enjoy the freedom to pursue their own sustainable development.  SNV accomplishes this by helping form the link between the poverty problems of the poor and populations on the ground and national organizatons, systems and policies in a country (www.snvworld.org).

Continuing her advisory work throughout the 1990’s as the city council secretary for Wormerland and Noordwijk, and then as a senior adviser for the Rijn Consult Group,  Mrs Fieren eventually became the general director of SNV in 2000.  From this position, she was able to direct, coordinate and strategize SNV, who at this time was an organization with 1650 people in 28 countries, and with a working budget of €75 million.

Presently, as a member of the Partij van de Arbeid (Labour Party), Mrs Fierens is a strategy and sustainable development adviser and trainer for the Netherlands and Europe.  With her extensive experience in youth education, development work and strategy advising, we welcome Mrs Fierens as a valuable addition to the Board of Recommendations for Computers for Development.

During TINE 2005 Computers For Development was present with an own stand. TINE is the biggest ICT and Networking Event in the Netherlands (Amsterdam RAI). 

At April 10, 2005 Computers For Development organised a Benefit High Tea. Read our report here.

On October 19^th CFD did a presentation at the Marketing Focus Europe event at Castle Keukenhof in Noordwijk. This event was organized by Baptie & Co, and it was attended by CEO's and VP's from leading companies in the technology and telecom industries. For more information: www.baptie.com/focus_market/scr12.html

On October 4^th CFD shipped a 20ft container with 223 computers to Tanzania. The computers will be used by 15 rural hospitals in and around Arusha with the management of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT). The project is aimed at improving the utilization of information in hospitals in Tanzania. This shipment was realized in collaboration with Cordaid based in The Hague. Some of the computers were donated by the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC). For more information: www.computersfordevelopment.org/eng_projects.htm
About Cordaid: Cordaid is a development organization with a Catholic tradition. The Catholic social thinking still is their source of inspiration. For Cordaid every human being counts. "Values such as respect for life, solidarity, and love for our fellow humans form the basis for our mission: poverty relief, justice, and peace" Quotes Cordaid. For more information: www.cordaid.nl

CFD provided hardware in April  to an Educational Resource Centre in Takoradi, situated in the western region of Ghana. This is run by To Be Worldwide and the hardware was donated by Dopharma. The facilities of this centre have increased the demand for learning by students in the region. To Be Worldwide and CFD have agreed that at the end of this year CFD will ship a second round of hardware to the Educational Resource Centre, to ensure that the centre can cope with the ever increasing number of children waiting to be trained. For more information: www.computersfordevelopment.org/eng_projects.htm

An international pharmaceutical company provided hardware and will give additional financial support to Ikombe Secondary School in Kenya, through CFD’s Adopt a School Program. The company intends to intensify the relationship with the school by providing more support in 2005.

Feminenza Netherlands participates in various fund raising and publicity activities in support of CFD’s work. For more information: www.feminenza.org/friends/ourfriends.htm

April 2004: computers for schools in Ghana
In cooperation with Wilde Ganzen, To Be Worldwide and Sankofa, Computers For Development delivers PC's to a selection of basic schools in Ghana.