Technology is a life skill, not a lab skill
A computer is valuable when someone uses it to learn, earn, farm, trade, study or help a neighbour. We place donated devices where life happens: classrooms, homes, shops, farms and community halls, with the power, skills and support to use them well.
Common failures of donation programmes are no power, no trained users, no repair, unsuitable machines, no content, data left on devices and no evidence of impact. Zambesi is designed to fix each of them.
Illustrative example
10 used laptops to a rural school with no mains power, with the Full Learning Site package: about US$2,255 in the first year (refurbishment, solar set, offline server, training, 12 months of support, 10% administration fee). Serving about 180 learner places a year, that is roughly US$12.50 per learner place in year one and about US$6.60 over three years. Planning figures only.
The productive donation chain
Receive and assess
Devices are logged, tested and graded.
Securely wipe
Data erased to a documented standard, with a certificate.
Refurbish
Repairs, batteries or storage where worthwhile, clean operating system.
Match
Each device goes to a classroom, women’s group, clinic, farmer group or teacher.
Power and connect
Solar, surge protection and an offline learning server where needed.
Train
Users, teachers and a site champion trained at handover.
Support
Helpdesk, repair and spares for at least 12 months.
Report
Photos, usage data, learners reached and stories sent to you.
Donation tiers
| Tier | What it covers | Illustrative donor contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Device Only | Receive, wipe, test and re-home devices as they are, with a record of the recipient. | Handling fee up to 10% of value |
| Ready to Use | Plus refurbishment, operating system, preloaded content and a handover orientation. | About US$25–60 per device |
| Powered and Connected | Plus solar power and an offline learning server for the site. | About US$800–2,500 per site |
| Full Learning Site | Plus teacher and learner training and 12 months of support. | About US$2,000–6,000 per site |
| Sponsor a Learner | Fund a place in a Zambesi course through the Access Fund. | Cost shown on the course page |
Welcome
- Laptops and desktops under about 8 years old, 4 GB memory or more
- Working tablets and phones with chargers
- Chargers, keyboards, mice, headsets, webcams
- Routers, switches, access points, cable
- Projectors, monitors, printers with toner
- Robotics and maker kits; solar panels, batteries and controllers in good condition
Safeguards
- Certified secure data wipe on every device
- Asset register shared with donor and recipient
- Devices are never sold; recycling income goes to the Access Fund
- Cash gifts ring-fenced in the Access Fund
- Customs and duty confirmed in writing before any shipment
- E-waste take-back at end of life