Laptop for Gambia Trip

[Fatmas]

Every year, a group of people from the school (teachers, pupils) etc.. go over to the Gambia. They usually take things such as pencils, footballs, notepads, etc.. Things that would be useful to children in a developing country.

 

One of the organisers of the trip has approached us asking if we have any old laptops that could be given to a child over there going to University.

 

The problem is, our old Dell laptops have batterys which are shot away and I don't know what the electricity situation is where the laptop would be. Also, they are so old, they wouldn't last a day over there...

 

Any suggestions? I did look at the OLPC schemes but it seems you can't just buy them to give to whoever.

 

Is this just wishful thinking in the mind of the teacher?

 

 

Thanks guys.

[Midget]

I've always used my MSI Wind when in Africa with a battery pack from maplin. They're probably really cheap now second hand, or a new samsung atom based machine.

[Fatmas]

I did think about Netbooks, I saw a 2nd hand eee pc on eBay for £99 but I have a feeling the teacher won't want to spend any money.

 

I don't think they understand that us giving them a years old laptop would help in any way.

[Midget]

also the weight of the old laptop would make it a pain to cart around over there and may cause grief with the airport - some airlines allow handluggage + laptop some don't.

[creese]

I've worked with all sorts of stuff in S Africa. Starting in 2004 with desktops that had been there for a couple of years having been taken by the RAF. The school is now down to 3 desktops and only 2 of those decent. I have been promised some laptops which i will get people to carry over.

 

I have made 4 trips and had no problem taking them on a plane.

 

I think you have to let the people working there decide if it is worth them taking, point out the pitfalls with the equipment. If they still think it is worth taking and you are happy to part with it............ you've done your bit. I'm fortunate enough to be able to decide what is worth sending and know the people who will end up using and setting them up.

[_Bat_]

and I don't know what the electricity situation is where the laptop would be

 

In Gambia specifically, it's pretty bad. If they are connected to the mains at all, then they will expect being cut off for half an hour at a time at least two or three times a day. This is just normal for them.

 

We've taken computer equipment over there before, though it's usually been sold by the time we go back again, as with most other stuff we've taken over there for a specific purpose.