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Malawian students share the impact computers donated by Oxford Saïd have had on their lives 

Published

High-school students at a secondary school in Malawi have spoken about the positive impact computers donated by Oxford Saïd, have had on their lives.

Computer equipment and supplies were shipped earlier this year as part of the School's collaboration with The Turing Trust, the charity founded by British mathematician Alan Turing's family to support digital education in sub-Saharan Africa. More than 1,250 items of IT equipment including laptops, desktops, monitors, printers, cables, and iPhones have been donated by Oxford Saïd since 2019. 

The initiative reinforces the School's commitment to sustainability, reducing carbon footprint and CO2 emissions while creating educational opportunities. Students at the Likangala Secondary School and St. Anthony's School in the Malawian Zomba region, where only three per cent of students have access to computers, reflected on receiving the supplies. They shared how the computers delivered in the last few months is helping to support their future ambitions.

Previously, three to five students shared a computer. Teachers now assist us individually. I can now humbly say the skills acquired will be an assistance in my career as an accountant, and I look forward to more as I complete my secondary School.

Walusungu Phiri

Malawian Student in new Computer Lab

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Walusungu Phiri

Walusungu Phiri, 19, described how having more personalised access to computers and teachers supports his academic goals:

 

'Having enough computers is helping me to do more practical work during lessons and out of school hours. Teachers now assist us individually since each student has his or her own computer, unlike previously when we used to share three to five students per computer. I can now humbly say the skills acquired will be of an assistance in my career as an accountant, and I look forward to more as I complete my secondary School.'  

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Peter Wilson

Peter Wilson, 12, also shared how the computers afford him autonomy and valuable additional learning time:

 

'I can now easily access educational resources through the offline library and the internet, which our teacher sometimes connects us to, and I can also now copy notes any time I want to. The computers mean a lot to me as it is an opportunity for me to gain more skills and knowledge in computers as I intend to become a Military IT officer.'  

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Glory Kachule

Glory Kachule, a form three student, explained what computer access has meant for her education:

 

'I can now practice more easily and access information with the many computers our School has received. I would like to become a medical doctor and the knowledge gained will be useful in my career.'  

We are helping to transform the lives of students through providing access to digital education while caring for our environment, goals which dovetail perfectly with the School's mission, and support our sustainable objectives.

Mark Bramwell

Oxford Saïd's Chief Information Officer

Mark Bramwell, Oxford Saïd's Chief Information Officer, commented:

 

'I am thrilled with the results our partnership with the Turing Trust is delivering. We are helping to transform the lives of students through providing access to digital education while caring for our environment, goals which dovetail perfectly with the School's mission, and support our sustainable objectives. We are committed to a brighter future for all of us and look forward to continuing this positively impactful, tangible and meaningful alliance.' 

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Malawian students with donated computers

In 2022, the Turing Trust received 12,187 IT equipment donations from 203 organisations, including Oxford Saïd. Its recent Annual Report outlined how it used computer equipment donations to support 367 Schools in Malawi. The results included the creation of 61 new computer labs, which enabled 169,000 students to have access to and learn vital IT skills, resulting in 44% more students now choosing Computer Studies as a career choice. The recycled and repurposed equipment saved 200 tonnes of CO2 emissions (the equivalent of planting 1900 trees), demonstrating the measurable results the School and its partners are having in supporting digital education in Sub-Sahara Africa.  

 

  

One of the highlights was the visit to St Anthony's School, where we spent time with a class in the new computer lab using Oxford Saïd's kit. What a memorable morning that was!

Denis Robson

Turing Trust Partner visits Malawi School

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A Turing Trust partner, Denis Robson, visiting schools in Malawi

Through the Turing Trust, donations of used IT equipment, phones, and computers are repurposed and outfitted with state-of-the-art educational software, which are then redistributed to schools and computer labs for students in Malawi.  

Denis Robson from the Rotary Club, and one of The Turing Trust partners, recently visited St Anthony School in Malawi where students have benefitted from donated Oxford Saïd computers. He commented: 

 

'I have just returned from another amazing trip to Malawi where we visited several projects we support in our Thondwe partnership programme. One of the highlights was the visit to St Anthony's School, where we spent time with a class in the new computer lab using Oxford Saïd's kit. What a memorable morning that was! '  

St. Anthony's School students thanked Denis and sang a song! He plans to return later this year to record a video of the students.  

 

 

Click here to learn more about the Digital Education project.