Western Bay of Plenty residents are being called upon to donate their old, unused or unwanted laptops to local Rotarians, who upgrade and gift them to schools in the Pacific that can’t afford the technology.

The initiative is led by Katikati Rotarian John Buchanan, a retired computer engineer, who upgrades old laptops with new components and new software before organising their delivery to schools abroad.

“We urgently need more unwanted computers to adapt to this purpose, since Rotary has no computers on hand right now,” Buchanan said.

He said Katikati College students would be visiting Tonga this coming June and would like to take some refurbished computers with them to gift to schools there.

Buchanan said any laptops were suitable to donate – and computers that were obsolete since the phase-out of Windows 10 would be ideal as well. “We can upgrade these for use in schools across the Pacific.”

Students at Little Hearts school in Cambodia proudly show off their 10 laptops. Photo / Supplied

The Rotary Club of Katikati’s programme that refurbished outdated computers for reuse in schools abroad had been very successful in recent years, Buchanan said.

“In the past, schools in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands have benefited from this programme, with more than 200 laptops donated so far.”

“Other countries that have received refurbished laptops included Cambodia, the Philippines and Kenya.”

Buchanan said Katikati Rotary had also partnered with International Needs New Zealand to provide laptops for a water resourcing project in Sri Lanka. He said “this ongoing project reflects the international reputation of Rotary and helps our poorer neighbours” to deliver better education for their youth.

Students at Florence Young School, Kulum, in the Solomon Islands, with their donated laptops. Photo / Supplied

Closer to home, 16 Chromebooks had been donated to Katikati College students who were going on to university. Meanwhile, Bethlehem College students had personally taken refurbished computers to Nasinu Secondary School in Fiji.

But without more donated stock of outdated laptops and computers, the Rotarians couldn’t keep the programme going.

“If you personally, your workplace, business or company have surplus laptops and computers that are no longer needed, please contact me,” Buchanan said. “I can arrange their collection.”

To get in touch, email Buchanan at: john@buchanan.co.nz.