The goal of this project is to provide refurbished computer equipment to people on limited incomes; to overcome barriers that prevent universal access to on-line resources by deploying, at minimal cost, networked computers for people in need.

Cognizant of the fact that the poor have generally been left out of the network arena, PCs 4 All is finding homes for re-usable older equipment for people who are interested in exploring the on-line world but lack the resources to buy their own equipment.

The process would:

a) Identify households that could benefit (i.e. low-income urban households/neighbourhoods, isolated rural communities, marginalized communities);

b) Do a needs assessment based on input from the target community;

c) Investigate ways to access funding and direct in-kind sources for the needed technologies, including collection and re-deployment of used equipment and materials.

Criteria for the target community would include: people living on low incomes – social assistance clients, single parents, the underemployed, students, artists, refugee claimants.

Some examples of possible eligible recipients may be:

1) immigrant and refugee households with employment seekers and/or social service needs;

2) households living at or below the poverty line.

We do most of our work with volunteers. The volunteers disassemble the donated equipment and test the components, which are either recycled as electronic scrap or recycled into refurbished systems. Any computer equipment, working or not, can be donated; we will repair and reuse what computers we can. Non-functioning computers and scrap will be recycled responsibly. Computers that are deemed obsolete or broken are de-manufactured and separated into their basic components. We then find a local industrial recycler to process the materials.

At a later stage of the project, recipients of the equipment would be welcome to participate in the testing and repair of the donated computer technology. This would enable them to learn such tasks as collection, recycling, testing, building and refurbishing computers.

For further information contact Phoenix Community Works Foundation at 416-964-3380.