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Most regions have many organisations working together to support digital inclusion. Here in Dunedin/Otago we found gaps at every step. So we decided to work with organisations supporting youth, families and community to support them with technology for their clients and whanau.
We also to make use of Dunedin's volunteer army of University and Polytech students who are desperate to turn the Knowledge they gain from tertiary training into Skills and Experience that will help them get jobs in the digital careers they seek.
We also supports Dunedin/Otago Businesses gain more experienced and capable IT people.
The Need:
The Need:
We have found many families are getting into debt to purchase BYOD devices for their school children. This can also have a continued cost for those parents who have no digital knowledge. Jobseekers also need devices to find work. Seniors need devices and skills to connect to family, support organisations and even keep the power running.
We have found many families are getting into debt to purchase BYOD devices for their school children. This can also have a continued cost for those parents who have no digital knowledge. Jobseekers also need devices to find work. Seniors need devices and skills to connect to family, support organisations and even keep the power running.
Behind all the programmes we run is our over arching goal of Digital inclusion and equity for all. The Cost of everyday technology connections for all is the biggest barrier.
Behind all the programmes we run is our over arching goal of Digital inclusion and equity for all. The Cost of everyday technology connections for all is the biggest barrier.
The cost to BUY technology,
The cost to BUY technology,
the cost to MAINTAIN technology,
the cost to MAINTAIN technology,
the cost to FIX broken technology
the cost to FIX broken technology
We offer a solution to our communities, be it the skills to use devices, a place to go within communities to get digital support, experience and skills development for those trying to get into digital careers and free or low-cost devices and internet to connect.
We offer a solution to our communities, be it the skills to use devices, a place to go within communities to get digital support, experience and skills development for those trying to get into digital careers and free or low-cost devices and internet to connect.
DIGI-WASTE
DIGI-WASTE
By collecting organisations digital e-waste (digi-waste), devices that still have plenty of life left in them, we can lower or even remove this barrier.
By collecting organisations digital e-waste (digi-waste), devices that still have plenty of life left in them, we can lower or even remove this barrier.
We started this in a small way from the time we started Com2Tech. Initially getting technology donations from where we could and then joining up with the Otago Polytech to help them re-purpose more of their digital e-waste more effectively.
We started this in a small way from the time we started Com2Tech. Initially getting technology donations from where we could and then joining up with the Otago Polytech to help them re-purpose more of their digital e-waste more effectively.
Last year we leased a workshop space at 105 Harrow street and started putting up shelves. We then connected with the Garreth, who runs the University of Otago E-waste recovery... and then our shelves were filled as fast as they were put up.
Last year we leased a workshop space at 105 Harrow street and started putting up shelves. We then connected with the Garreth, who runs the University of Otago E-waste recovery... and then our shelves were filled as fast as they were put up.
Since then we have been slowly connecting with more and more organisations to collect their e-waste.
Since then we have been slowly connecting with more and more organisations to collect their e-waste.
We collect digi-waste at community events and are setting up collections at many community centres and Libraries that we work in. We also support these spaces with devices and distribute free devices to families and community members that need them.
We collect digi-waste at community events and are setting up collections at many community centres and Libraries that we work in. We also support these spaces with devices and distribute free devices to families and community members that need them.
We have also connected with Waitaki Boys High in Oamaru and a supporter of the Home schoolers of Southland based in Invercargill. We pack up a trailer or Carload of devices from our collections and deliver devices for them to setup and disperse to their communities in need.
We have also connected with Waitaki Boys High in Oamaru and a supporter of the Home schoolers of Southland based in Invercargill. We pack up a trailer or Carload of devices from our collections and deliver devices for them to setup and disperse to their communities in need.
We support Organisations with Sustainability Goals
We support Organisations with Sustainability Goals
We also act as a link to support Organisations to become more digitally Sustainable by reusing and repurposing their e-waste away from landfill and to support and develop a Sustainable ecosystem for Digital e-waste repurposing in Dunedin/Otago.
We also act as a link to support Organisations to become more digitally Sustainable by reusing and repurposing their e-waste away from landfill and to support and develop a Sustainable ecosystem for Digital e-waste repurposing in Dunedin/Otago.
We also create connections for organisations to support our Communities with e-waste collections and to repurpose and reuse devices destined for landfill.
We also create connections for organisations to support our Communities with e-waste collections and to repurpose and reuse devices destined for landfill.
You can support us with your E-waste and/or sponsorship from your e-waste/marketing budget.
You can support us with your E-waste and/or sponsorship from your e-waste/marketing budget.
We run barrier free services for our youth and communities so they can become connected and skilled users of technology.
We run barrier free services for our youth and communities so they can become connected and skilled users of technology.
In the last year due to government budget cuts and a higher need for community funding and grants, we have lost a huge chunk of our youth and community funding. With a larger delivery base and higher costs we can no longer be reliant on community funding and Grants and have been advised by funders to sell our technology.
In the last year due to government budget cuts and a higher need for community funding and grants, we have lost a huge chunk of our youth and community funding. With a larger delivery base and higher costs we can no longer be reliant on community funding and Grants and have been advised by funders to sell our technology.
We have taken that onboard in the last year, and now sell some incoming e-waste that is not needed by our community programmes and we ask a koha for items from those who can afford to support us in this way.
We have taken that onboard in the last year, and now sell some incoming e-waste that is not needed by our community programmes and we ask a koha for items from those who can afford to support us in this way.
Our organisation is growing to support more communities with devices. But we do not have enough funding to pay everyone wages and are currently volunteer-led, only making enough to pay our current costs and providing IT experience opportunities to those training in IT and tertiary graduates/jobseekers trained and in need of experience to get jobs.
Our organisation is growing to support more communities with devices. But we do not have enough funding to pay everyone wages and are currently volunteer-led, only making enough to pay our current costs and providing IT experience opportunities to those training in IT and tertiary graduates/jobseekers trained and in need of experience to get jobs.
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