PCs get a new lease on life

Rio Tinto have forged a new partnership, supplying community groups in Guinea with recycled computers.

The first batch of computers was received by communities in Beyla and Kerouané where Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) is conducting exploration activities linked to the Simandou deposit.

Donating old computers is part of the company's broader community investment program, coordinated by Rio Tinto and the IBLF/Prince of Wales Fund. The project is the first trial of its type for RTIO and has scope to grow into a global program.

Roughly 130 desktop and laptop equipment systems and four servers were collected from Rio Tinto operations in Western Australia and dispersed amongst West African communities over the last few months.

Teams from all over the globe have been working together to bring this project to life and teamwork has played an important role in its success.

The project has demonstrated the benefit of creative solutions to help partner communities in developing countries.

While the computers donated no longer have as much commercial value for the business, they do carry significant community and environmental value through recycling.

The computers will provide better resources for youth and women's groups offering environmental, education and health support to those in need.

Local community groups in Guinea have acknowledged the donation in helping Beyla and Kerouané develop communication and information spaces for local schools and youth organisations.

They also expressed their intent to use Rio Tinto's computer donation to develop sustainable community programs for Guinea.

Although donating computers seems like a relatively straightforward idea, as with most projects there were certainly challenges to overcome.

One of Rio Tinto's bigger challenges was to make sure the equipment was compatible by installing new, French-language operating systems.
 
With the trial a success, the computer donation initiative is being considered for expansion into a global program.

The opportunity to collaborate with CECIDE, a civil society organisation, to implement training and follow-up activities around the use of the donated computers, is also being considered.