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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Dear All,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>We at Computers for Schools Kenya have been very
closely following the debate on “affordable” computers – particularly with
reference to refurbs. Many of the comments are informed and no doubt well
intentioned, but many others have left us wringing our hands in
despair!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>CFSK has been working for the last seven years to
bring the benefits of ICT to resource-challenged educational & training
institutions and community information access & resource centres. At our
foundation, based on objective and empirical research, we sought to design an
intervention model that would meet the needs of the client group within their
resource limitations without unduly compromising quality of access or service.
After reviewing several options (details of which I will not go into), we
narrowed down quality refurbs from reputable sources as the way to go. Our
decision was informed by the following:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
lang=EN-US>Intervention models in other countries</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=EN-US>.
We were particularly impressed by the Computers for Schools Canada Programme and
a similar programme in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chile</st1:place></st1:country-region> – all of
which had achieved immense success in taking computers to educational
institutions and community information centres such as libraries. Though these
three were the biggest such organised interventions virtually all other
countries in the West as well as the Asian Tigers had similar programmes but on
a smaller scale. ALL were utilising refurbs from the corporate and related
sectors that of necessity have to stay right on the cutting edge of ICT, and
therefore have available functional albeit older PCs available from time to time
as they upgrade.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
lang=EN-US>The needs of the target groups</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=EN-US> and the
use to which they were going to put the computers ands related accessories they
would obtain through us. We established that the refurbs we were able to obtain
would meet their requirements: run Windows, run MS Office Suite, run the
educational eContent available, and access the Internet where other requisite
infrastructure was in place.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
lang=EN-US>Functionality</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=EN-US> of the equipment. CFSK was
able to enter into partnerships with reputable organisations overseas that
guaranteed that only quality and fully functional refurbs were imported by us.
Working with these partners, we have over time revised the <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">minimum</B> specs for such equipment that
we will accept – starting off with PIs when we started off in 2002 to our
present day minimum of PIVs with at least 256MB of RAM and 20GB HDD. As part of
that process, we even anticipate that from the second quarter of next year, we
shall only accept TFT and not CRT monitors.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
lang=EN-US>Affordability</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=EN-US>, which we very deliberately
put last. All listers will remember that it is only in the last four to five
years that the Government has made substantive budgetary allocations for ICTs in
the kinds of institutions I am talking about and very wisely too. In 2002 when
we started, money for ICTs had to be raised by the institutional community from
their meagre resources or from corporate and other donors. And even the
allocations now being made by Government to these institutions, generous as they
may be amidst all the other pressing needs, are not enough to saturate them with
ICTs at the required level. Refurbs offered and still offer an affordable option
that gives good value for money.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>To allege that refurbs constitute dumping is to be
simplistic to a fault. Where the refurbs are not functional, do not meet the
needs of the recipients, or are not good value for money, then that would be
dumping – and it maybe that a certain amount of this is happening. But to
condemn refurbs en masse, is to fail to acknowledge that this country’s nascent
digital revolution is as a result of these much maligned equipment – not
outrageously priced brand new equipment. At CFSK we are for quality, and
preferably new, computers. Admittedly, it would be lovely to provide all our
institutions with ultra-modern 2.0GHz Duo Core computers with 2GB RAM and 200GB
on the HDD, etc. And where they can afford them, especially with the
Government’s very welcome intervention in allocating resources for the purpose,
we are glad to help them acquire quality brand new equipment. However, where an
institution has limited resources, we must ask the questions: do they NEED the
immense capacity that brand new computers at current “standard” specs provide,
and should they expend limited resources on such capacity when they may in fact
not need it?</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Being cognizant of the fact that ALL electronics,
new and refurbished, ultimately become eWaste, CFSK working with both local and
international partners has established and eWaste Management Centre. This
Centre, through innovative disassembly, reuse, recycling and re-export is
managing ICT-related eWaste in a manner that is protective of the environment
and mindful of public health. Up-scaling and out-scaling initiatives such as
this will ensure we are all protected from the hazards of electronic waste,
including that which begun its life as brand new equipment.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Eltimately, as one of the listers very wisely
suggested, what is required is a level-headed consultation amongst ALL stake
holders – civil society, commercial enterprises, a sampling of end users and the
regulatory authorities – with a view to defining a rational policy in this area
that advances rather than stunts the pivotal sector. We would be ardent
participants.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Thank you,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT color=#000080><FONT size=2><STRONG>Tom
Musili </STRONG></FONT><FONT
size=2><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2><STRONG><FONT color=#000080>Executive
Director</FONT></STRONG><FONT
face=Arial> </FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT
face=Arial size=2><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff>
<DIV align=justify>
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<DIV align=justify><FONT color=#000080 size=2><STRONG>Computers for Schools
Kenya </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
color=#000080 size=2>Semco</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
color=#000080 size=2> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Business</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType> | Unit 1, <st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Mombasa Road</st1:address></st1:Street> |
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">P.O. Box</st1:Street>
48584-00100</st1:address> | Nairobi , Kenya |<BR>Tel:254(0)202060919, Tel/Fax:
254 (0)20 2060920 Mobile (0)722-618788|Email:</FONT><A
href="mailto:tom@cfsk.org"><FONT color=#000080
size=2>tom@cfsk.org</FONT></A><FONT color=#000080 size=2>|Website: </FONT><A
href="http://www.cfsk.org"><FONT color=#000080
size=2>www.cfsk.org</FONT></A></SPAN><FONT color=#000080><FONT
size=2> <FONT face=Arial> </FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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