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Students refurbish computers to go to rural Samoan schools
Kia kaha to a group of Year 7 and 8 students at Northcote Intermediate in Auckland. Last month, about 30 of them volunteered to help clean, fix and refurbish more than 60 unwanted PCs and 130 screens, which are now on their way to schools in Samoa.
“We’ve got lots of students who are mad about technology,” said Principal Phil Muir. “This gives them the opportunity to see what a real technology project looks like. It’s practical, hands on, involves upcycling and multi-organisation collaboration, and it’s fun!”
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Digital collaboration
Organising the project was the Pacific Assist Trust, a not-for-profit charity serving the nations of the South Pacific. Also assisting were Code Avengers, who will be overseeing the set-up of the computers and training teachers, as part of a digital literacy programme connecting remote and rural schools in Samoa. Microsoft’s Conor McHoull – a former teacher at Northcote Intermediate – helped to install on each device Windows 10 and 11 licences, kindly provided by Microsoft. Lastly, the computers were donated by IT service management company Concentrix. “The relationship first came about when we were approached by Pacific Assist to see if we had any unwanted furniture that they could send to schools in the Pacific Islands,” added Phil. “We did and since then we’ve done several projects together. Next year, we plan to send a group of students to Rarotonga to do some collaborative work with local schools, parts of which will include a digital technology project.” Learn more about the Pacific Assist Trust at pacificassist.org
HELPING HANDS: STUDENTS AND TEACHER ZANE COOPER, WITH CONOR (LEFT), CODE AVENGERS’ RAY ALLEN (BACK LEFT), AND PACIFIC ASSIST’S CALLUM BLAIR (BACK RIGHT).
