Issue 38: Refurbished computers

New crops from old PCs

Karamagi Akiiki Ednah

Farmers in Uganda can now learn new skills and increase their incomes. A project using old computers has given rural communities Internet access and the opportunity to take part in e-learning programmes.

When I first heard that our organization, the Busoga Rural Open Source and Development Initiative (BROSDI) was considering using refurbished computers I was quite negative about the idea. As far as I was concerned, refurbished meant ‘old’ and ‘used’. I thought we would be taking on someone else’s junk and rejects. It was only after some research that I learned that many of the hardware components of a refurbished computer have either been replaced or even updated with newer technology than the original.

BROSDI was looking for a way to encourage a culture of gathering existing knowledge and to find ways of sharing that information, especially in the areas of education, agriculture and health, in order to stimulate socio-economic development in rural Uganda. We wanted computers for our staff and residents of rural areas to document information which could then be disseminated through our various channels.

We knew what we wanted to do, and how to do it. We even had a venue for the community centre, but we had no computers and only limited funds. Through a number of partners, we got to know about Computers for Development, a Dutch foundation that provides refurbished computers, as well as training and support, to schools, hospitals and projects in Africa. When we contacted them they told us they could supply personal computers and other hardware, including monitors, laptops, printers, modems, etc., which would be cleaned, tested and configured according to our requirements. BROSDI would not have to pay for the equipment, but we would have to cover the freight costs. We agreed, and in 2005 one hundred computers were delivered to our office in Wainha Village in the district of Mayuge a few hours’ drive from the capital Kampala. The challenge now was to decide how to use and distribute the computers.

Success

At our development centre we had reserved two rooms, one for an internet and training unit and the other for the ‘Academic Bank’, where we provide resources for the education programme. For many of our partners it was the first time they had ever seen a computer. Today, the computers are used by researchers from Busoga University. They are also used by BROSDI programme staff, by staff from Buluba Hospital, and by primary and secondary schoolteachers involved in our education programme. The computers are also available to people in the surrounding rural communities. Members of our agricultural programme, Collecting and Exchange of Local Agricultural Content (CELAC), also use the computers to record the minutes of meetings and document their activities, and to upload the information onto the relevant websites and blogs.

Advice when buying refurbished computers based on BROSDI’s experience

Bear in mind that in any batch of refurbished computers it is possible to get a defective machine.
Be careful about the brand of computer. Only buy those from reputable companies to be sure that the parts are high quality. It might even be possible to obtain a warranty.
Insist that the supplier sends the proper software documentation and licences. This will prevent you from receiving stolen computers that are being presented as refurbished. Better still, request copies of this documentation upfront. You might also need it when reinstalling the software, applying a system restore or back-up.
If you live near the supplier, pay them a visit and try out the refurbished computers. If possible, get an IT expert to check the CDs and disk drives, and to give advice on the graphics, video and sound drivers. Also check the condition of accessories like the mouse, monitor, keyboard, etc.
Always ask the supplier what kind of support is available, and for how long. Maintenance from another company can be expensive.

For more details on what to look for in a refurbished computer, see the TechTip.

One interesting story that came out of this work concerns Mulopi Joseph, a farmer attached to the CELAC programme. He used to grow only a single crop of cabbages per year which he sold, irrespective of the weight, for USh100 (€0.04) per cabbage. While surfing the Internet one day, he found the telephone number of a vegetable buyer in Kampala. He contacted the buyer, who expressed interest in his cabbages and agreed to buy them for USh300 (€0.12) per kilo. The buyer also made arrangements to collect the cabbages straight from Mulopi’s garden, so he did not even have to pay transport costs. Mulopi, being the enterprising man he is, went back to the Internet to look for information on how to grow cabbages all year round. Today, Mulopi is no longer producing just one crop of cabbages each year, but several crops year-round that contribute greatly to his household income.

Progress

Initially, BROSDI provided free Internet access but within seven months the number of users increased so much that we were forced to regulate the time they could spend at the computer. Now, only the first thirty minutes are free, but we charge a fee for time spent online after that. Most users are from our partner organizations who use the computers to read local newspapers online and to access international news websites, to check their email and to search for information.

The teachers using our computers as part of the education programme work mostly with orphaned children at primary school level. The children are encouraged to write entries for a blog, the ‘Hope Children’s Club’, to help them learn to express themselves and to promote dialogue. Using this simple blog has helped to build the children’s confidence both at home and at school, this has even led to improved performance in the classroom.

In the very near future, we will install a social and educational e-learning management system developed by our IT department and staff at the Standard College of Buwagi. The college, one of our education programme partners to whom we donated 18 refurbished computers, has set up a laboratory where teachers, parents and students can learn how to use a computer. The e-learning programme will run on an open source platform supported by Moodle (an educational course management system) and will be used by the primary school children and their teachers. After further development of the system, the children will have the necessary basic skills to use the program, which can then also be easily adapted to meet their specific needs. Eventually, we intend to develop a series of CD-ROMs for distribution to other schools further away from our computer centre.

Farmer to farmer advice

Extracts from the CELAC blog, part of the BROSDI agriculture programme

Improving your livelihood
‘I have been a sweet potato farmer growing three sweet potato types. I got the idea of rearing pigs from one of the ‘how to guides’ which were given to us during a CELAC knowledge sharing forum. I have learnt a lot from the knowledge sharing forums like now I have been able to diversify because Apart from growing sweet-potatoes I now rear pigs I also intend to start rearing chicken soon.’
Babirye Eva, Luwero district

How to grow peas
‘It is important that the land is prepared before the rain season sets. Most farmers don’t start cultivating unless it has rained, and this leads them to plant late and that is one of the reasons why we cannot get food on time. This also leads to fewer yields. On this note, I encourage my fellow farmers to practice timely planting.”
Mrs Muwanga, a farmer from Masaka district network

How to make compost
‘Different materials can be used to make manure including grass clippings trimmed from your compound, peelings, all kinds of kitchen wastes, thinned seedlings, and weeds, plus any kind of grass growing in your garden especially those with soft leaves. Avoid using weeds with seeds as they may end up germinating.’
Mary Nakirya, BROSDI

We have certainly had some encouraging results from the users of the refurbished computers. They can be a good, affordable solution for organizations like BROSDI involved in documentation and information dissemination using ICTs and working with diverse partners spread over a large area. If asked the question: ‘Would you use refurbished computers again?’ I would say ‘yes’, especially now I know what to look out for. [see box]

Karamagi Akiiki Ednahis the general manager of Busoga Rural Open Source and Development Initiatives (BROSDI) a Ugandan NGO involved in community development through the use of ICTs.

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