Haitian Laptop Program a Success, Thanks to Readers Like You

World Concern worker Francoise uses a refurbished laptop to do payroll for the Cash-For-Work program, which pays unskilled laborers to clear rubble and repair homes. Photo: World Concern, InterConnection

In January, we reported on ways to get involved with Haitian earthquake relief efforts. Seven months later, we’ve learned that readers just like you made an impact in Haiti from more than 2,000 miles away.

Days after the 7.0 earthquake hit, humanitarian relief organization World Concern located surviving staff members and immediately began responding to the disaster.

But even as the organization experienced its own personal loss, its grieving staff still managed to provide blankets, plastic sheeting and emergency water supplies to other earthquake victims.

As the dust settled on the crumbled offices, World Concern knew it needed outside help in order to put its organization back together. Seattle-based InterConnection.org stepped in to aid in the rebuilding process by calling on Americans to donate laptops to be refurbished and sent to Haiti.

After word spread through the online eco-community, InterConnection received the necessary donations needed. In all, 10 laptops were sent to the World Concern offices in Haiti. InterConnection tested and refurbished all laptops and installed Windows and Office in French.

“The online system we set up to collect laptops for World Concern turned out to be an effective tool that we are using for other causes,” says InterConnection Director Charles Brennick.

“For example, we currently have a campaign to collect laptops for Boys and Girls Club youth. We also have plans to collect laptops for unemployed people who receive tech training from YWCA Seattle. Donating an old laptop for to someone in need is obviously a much greener choice than recycling it.”

While it may sound cliché, the success of the laptop donation program hinged on readers just like you, proving that one person, in fact, really can make a difference. For World Concern, these laptops were essential in rehabbing an organization that has proven to be valuable to Haitians for years.

“Imagine the loss of computers in this disaster. Schools, hospitals, NGOs would all have lost hard drives and laptops. They have no resources to replace these items,” World Concern spokesperson Susan Talbot told Earth911 in January.

“We work with orphans and vulnerable children and their caregivers. We have five offices around Haiti having sustained unknown amounts of damage. Our capacity to respond to disasters relies on our capacity to communicate not only with each other but with donors and funders, sharing beneficiary stories.”

According to Brennick, InterConnection is still accepting more laptops to be sent to World Concern in Haiti. If the laptop is less than five years old and functional, the donor will automatically receive a pre-paid mailing label that covers all shipping costs. Once the laptop is received, the donor will be sent a donation receipt for tax deduction purposes.

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