Computers for the Philippines

IJsselstein, The Netherlands, Sunday, 13 April 2003 (updated: Friday, 10 March 2006)

Give your old computer a second live in the Philippines

We currently run this project on low profile, due to the limited space for storage and limited funds available for shipping. To partially cover shipping costs, we need to ask a contribution from receiving institutions.

In cooperation with Damayang Pilipino sa Nederland, we run a small project to give old computers a second live in the Philippines. We collect computers, check them, clean and fix them when needed, and then ship them to the Philippines for use in public schools, health organizations, NGO's, and other organizations that serve the public good, and cannot afford to buy computers themselves.

So, if you still have your old computer lying around collecting dust somewhere, please consider us. We also are looking loose parts, so if you still have your old CD-Rom drive, processor, hard-disk, memory, etc., after upgrading to something newer: we can put it to good use.

Since we are physically located in the Netherlands, we only collect and ship computers from the Netherlands (preferably near Utrecht), but we will be happy to cooperate with similar initiatives that wish to collect computer hardware in other countries.

Although we accept nearly all types of old computer hardware, we will only ship systems that are still reasonably usable. This currently (2006) means a Pentium III 500 MHz computer with at least 128 megabytes of RAM, at least 4 gigabytes of hard-disk space, a 1.44 megabyte 3.25" floppy drive, a CD-Rom player, color monitor, keyboard and mouse. When available and usable, also other hardware, such as printers (not inkjet) and scanners will be shipped. See the technical details for details. Equipment that cannot be shipped will be sold to cover shipping costs, or stripped for parts, and parts that are no longer usable will be disposed of.

After we receive the machines we will completely wipe all harddisks. We will then freshly install English language software. If the hardware is donated with the original licences (so please don't remove license stickers), we can install Microsoft Windows and other commercial software. Otherwise we will install Linux and Open Office. Even if you do not have hardware to donate, we explicity want to ask you to donate English language software licenses and media. Finally, financial donations, to cover costs shipping, repair and parts are also welcome.

People or institutions who wish to donate computer hardware can contact us using our contact form, or at the address below. If you have concerns about confidentiality of data on your harddisks, we can assist you in whiping harddisks. We will format any harddisk we receive anyway.

Elligble institutions wishing to receive a computer can also contact us. Recipients will be asked to fill in an application form sign a declaration, in which the intended use is described, and some safeguards are agreed on to avoid abuse, theft, and missappropriation of donated equipment.

We cannot promise whether or when equipment will be delivered, which depends on the availability of donated computers and shipping capacity.

Since we strive to the utmost openness, we will publish details about hardware received and donated on-line. Our financial statement is also on-line. For more details, visit our Questions & Answers section.

Currently most needed are: bare computer systems and CD-Rom drives.

Jeroen Hellingman
Aletta Jacobsstraat 5
3404 XD IJsselstein
+31 (0)30 687 5444
jeroen@bohol.ph
http:/www.bohol.ph/

Received Computer Hardware

In reverse chronological order.

Complete Delivered Systems

First computers installed at library in Loon, Bohol.

In reverse chronological order.

Financial Statement

In chronological order.

Yes, we still run this fully cash-less!

Questions & Answers

Technical

Q: What type of computer hardware will you accept?

A: We are looking for systems that can still be used for a couple of years in projects in the Philippines. This means we cannot accept everything. Equipment is welcome that meets the following minimum requirements. (we may review these requirements from time to time.)

• Pentium III, 500 MHz with CD-Rom drive, 4 GB harddisk, and 128 MB of memory. (Although older equipment may still be in working order, we can't install reasonable up-to-date software on it, and, in case it breaks down, have neither spare parts nor the expertise to repair it)
• 15" or larger color monitors in good working condition. (No burn-in, faded or blurry image, etc.)
• External speakers.
• flatbed scanners. (Note that we need a SCSI card for a SCSI scanner to be useful)
• Small laser printers with a working toner cartridge. (unfortunately, inkjet printers are not suitable, since the cost of cartridges is either too high, or are not available; larger office laser printers are too big to be efficiently shipped; and dot-matrix printers are fairly out-dated now.)

Since we have a shortage of both CD-Rom drives and memory (maybe you still have one after you updated to a DVD or CD-Burner), donations of these are also sought. US style power cords, hard-disks, and software licenses for Windows and Office applications are also welcome.

Q: Can you pick up equipment?

A: Yes, but please remember that our costs (fuel and time spend) for picking up equipment can be considerable, so it may take some time for us before we have an opportunity to do so.

Q: What type of computers will you deliver?

A: We will only deliver complete, and fully functional systems, meeting at least the following specifications: 500 MHz Pentium III class processor, with 128 MB memory, 4 GB harddisk, a CD-Rom and floppy drive. Each system will be fully installed with all required software, and delivered with all required cables, an emergency boot-floppy and system software and other software on CD.

Q: What type of software will you install?

A: Depending on available licences, we will either install Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP with OpenOffice 2.0, or Linux with OpenOffice 2.0. All systems will be delivered with English language software only. Here we also ask you to donate your software licenses (and accompanying certificates).

Q: Why Linux?

A: We want to deliver properly licensed software only. As commerical software licenses often cost more than the value of the equipment itself, we have no other option than to use freely available software.

Organisational

Legal

Q: Why do we need to sign the declaration?

A: We put a lot of effort into this program, and want to make sure that donated equipment is used properly, and does not end up either being unused, or being used for other purposes than intended. Unfortunately, misappropriation of goods is still rampant in the Philippines, so we need people to be aware that we cannot and will not tolerate that.

Q: How long do we need to keep the equipment?

A: We normally require that the equipment will be used for the stated purpose for a period of two years. After that, the equipment may be sold, reused, or disposed of, and the organisation can apply for a newer equipment.

Q: We are a religious charity organisation, can we apply for computer equipment?

A: Yes, as long as your organisation subscribes to paragraph 2 of the declaration, which, among others, requires that your activities are to the benefit of people irrespective of their religious affiliation.

Jeroen Hellingman

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