FAQ
Donations & refurbishments of computers
Do you accept printers?
Only laser printers (equivalent to HP LaserJet 5) are accepted. Inkjet printers are not accepted because the cost of testing coupled with the purchase of new cartridges almost adds up to the price of a new printer.
What happens to the computers after collection?
Immediately after collection, the computers are ‘made ready for re-use’ by means of a refurbishment process. First, the computers are checked in by using a unique bar code. Then, each computer is subjected to the data-wipe-procedure. Data erasure certificates will be issued to the donor. After the data removal, the equipment is cleaned both internally and externally. The equipment is then packaged for transport by air or sea.
What IT material does Close the Gap accept?
Close the Gap provides a limited warranty. This means that a stringent preliminary selection has to take place ‘at the gate’. This vision is supported by the use of strict but evolving minimum specification requirements. The current minimum specification requirements are set at Pentium IV 2.0Ghz for computers and 15″ TFT flat screen for monitors. Close the Gap finds that the majority of donations consist of Pentium IV computers. Peripheral equipment like hubs, switches, scanners, keyboards, computer mice and laser printers can also be donated. Close the Gap asks that all donated material be in good working order. A ratio of 85% working and 15% faulty material is acceptable.
What type of keyboard do you deliver?
Close the Gap tries to take into account the specific needs of the end users. We will deliver new keyboards in the language of the beneficiary.
Will Close the Gap accept any number of computers?
As soon as a donor has the required minimum number of circa 2 euro pallets of material, Close the Gap will organise the collection of the goods.
Do you collect the IT equipment on site?
As soon as a donor has the required minimum number of 2 euro pallets of material, Close the Gap will organise the collection of the goods.
Do you install software on your computers?
Close the Gap is licensed by Microsoft to install Windows XP on its computers. Close the Gap can also provide open source software. It is up to the end-users to clearly state their preference.
How about Flection, aren’t they in the same business?
Flection is the company that won Close the Gap’s European tender. They are an independent company and are independently involved with the Close the Gap organisation. Flection performs this work as part of its core business activities. This is precisely the reason why they fought so hard to get this project off the ground. Or as Flection puts it: “If you place part of your core business in the field of socially responsible entrepreneurship – provided it is clearly separated from the rest of your business activities – you give a clear signal that you are willing to take your responsibility as a company seriously.”
How do the computers get to their destination?
Close the Gap ensures transport over the whole line, from initial collection to delivery at the place of installation. Close the Gap actively seeks donors to cover the costs of transportation. KLM, one of our current donors, carries our computers at low cost.
I work in a company that uses a lot of ICT material. How can I help?
Ask the person authorised within your company to contact Close the Gap. On the Close the Gap website, you will find a full and complete description of the donation procedure. Close the Gap will handle the collection, data erasure, possible recycling, cleaning and packaging. Following the collection of the material, each donor company will receive exhaustive and professional reports, as well as the corresponding certificates. At the end of the process, the company will receive a donation report that can be used for internal and/or external corporate communication. You can also inform us by e-mail if you wish to make a donation. A Close the Gap collaborator will contact you to discuss the logistics and follow-up in detail. Close the Gap can also assist you in the development of a communication scheme for external and/or internal purposes. Besides donations in kind, it is also possible to make a financial donation.
The operating system is installed in what language?
Close the Gap is licensed by Microsoft to install Windows XP on its computers. Close the Gap can also provide open source software. It is up to the end-users to clearly state their preference. This includes the software language, which can be adapted to the local language.
What about possible radiation?
Close the Gap guarantees the quality of its products. This vision is supported by the use of strict and evolving minimum technical requirements. Of course, all monitors comply with TCO 95 and 99 radiation standards.
What does the donation procedure for computers and peripherals consist of?
The entire donation procedure can be found on the Close the Gap website.
Projects
Can I adopt a project as a company or private individual?
It is perfectly possible for a company or a private individual to adopt a specific project. This entails that the company or private individual in question covers all the running costs (electricity, paper, toner…) associated with the adopted computer class. These project adoptions can help raise the level of involvement amongst company employees. Some companies go even further by allowing employees to visit a project themselves on a purely voluntary basis.
How do I submit a project application?
Close the Gap adheres to strict criteria for lending its support to individual projects and does not collaborate with any commercial initiatives. Close the Gap only provide computers for educational, cultural, social and medical purposes; in short, good-governance initiatives and civil-society aims. In order to use the initiative’s full potential, projects will require at least a certain level of computer knowledge (both hardware and software). In addition, there has to be cooperation in place with the local authorities. Important local bodies include the ministries of education, finance and development cooperation. Close the Gap endeavours to negotiate a ‘memorandum of understanding’ with the proper (education) authorities to ensure that selected projects are carried out in an efficient and sustainable manner. To this end, the help of locally authorised NGOs with considerable experience in development projects will be invoked when and where possible. This will further the continuity of projects after the initial setting-up phase. The three criteria mentioned above ensure a successful outcome of projects in the field. Any project proposal has to be approved by the acceptance committee.
How do you guarantee the durability of each project after the initial implementation phase?
Close the Gap ensures the identification and screening, the development, the application, and the assessment and supervision of projects. Firstly, a project has to meet the stated criteria. A number of complementary issues are also of importance. For instance, Close the Gap will negotiate a ‘memorandum of understanding’ with the proper (education) authorities to ensure selected projects are carried out in an efficient and sustainable manner. To this end, the help of locally authorised NGOs with considerable experience in development projects has been invoked. This helps to safeguard the future of projects after they have been set up.
How do you guarantee the durability of each project after the initial implementation phase?
Close the Gap ensures the identification and screening, the development, the application, and the assessment and supervision of projects. Firstly, a project has to meet the stated criteria. A number of complementary issues are also of importance. For instance, Close the Gap will negotiate a ‘memorandum of understanding’ with the proper (education) authorities to ensure selected projects are carried out in an efficient and sustainable manner. To this end, the help of locally authorised NGOs with considerable experience in development projects has been invoked. This helps to safeguard the future of projects after they have been set up.
In which countries is Close the Gap active?
Initially, due to strong historical ties, Close the Gap’s activities focussed on Sub-Saharan Africa (the Congo-Rwanda-Burundi cluster, Tanzania, Namibia and South Africa). Subsequently, Close the Gap’s activities have expanded to cover the globe, including projects in Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
What if the computers are in place and something breaks down?
There are two possible answers. Does it concern a software or hardware problem? With regards to software problems, we only cooperate on selected projects with local authorities that are truly committed. This includes amongst other things, the presence of a computer expert. In other words, there has to be sufficient local knowledge in place. Problems with hardware are a predominant occurrence in Africa. The right tools are often lacking. Close the Gap tries to prevent this problem by providing an ample supply of spare parts. Possible defects can thus be fixed as they occur.
Why not focus on more basic needs first? Some countries do not even have a regular electricity supply?
Fair point. However, luckily there are already a considerable number of organisations dealing with this problem. The importance of this problem cannot be underestimated. Close the Gap’s efforts lie in a different area since its activities do not strictly provide development aid but rather supply answers to existing needs based on the unequal distribution of wealth throughout the world. It is important that the need for computers is met in order to mobilise and develop local potential and talent; an important aspect in the (further) development of poorer nations.
Supporting close the gap
I am a private individual who wants to donate some IT equipment.
Close the Gap aims to provide a high-quality product to its beneficiaries in the developing countries. For this purpose, Close the Gap only collects IT equipment from corporations. This collection policy results from the fact that:
Why should my company support Close the Gap?
Close the Gap offers a unique opportunity to promote socially responsible entrepreneurship whereby IT equipment that is either partially or completely written off is refurbished and donated to worthwhile causes.
Volunteer work
Can I do volunteer work?
Close the Gap is always looking for volunteers. Volunteers are needed for administrative tasks but also for the implementation and preparation of projects. They can also do their bit for the collection of funds. These funds are needed to finance projects and basic infrastructure on the ground. Potential volunteers can send a letter outlining their motivation together with their curriculum vitae to volunteerwork@close-the-gap.org. Please specify any previous experience, availability and aspirations.
General
Do you give these computers away for free?
Close the Gap always tries to find donors to cover the logistical costs (collection and refurbishment of IT equipment) of the entire donation procedure. If no donor is found, Close the Gap is obliged to ask a contribution from the recipient in order to cover the processing cost.
Don’t these old computers work properly anymore?
The IT equipment in question has to meet Close the Gap’s strict quality requirements. Technological developments in IT equipment (but also in other fields, such as televisions and DVD players) take place at an ever-increasing rate. One new technology or development is almost immediately overtaken by another. As a result, IT equipment ages quickly. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the hardware is ‘old’. Close the Gap adheres to specific and clearly defined criteria to evaluate whether a computer is just ‘old’ or really worn-out. A computer doesn’t need to have the very latest specifications to still be very useful. The life span of a computer in the western world is very short, but if all functionalities are still operational, they can easily be used as part of the Close the Gap initiative.
How does it work from a fiscal standpoint?
There are attractive fiscal measures in place to further the donation of used equipment.
Is this initiative really new?
In this form, yes, it is new. There are similar initiatives, but they are not as elaborately worked out and executed as Close the Gap.
Just another way of delayed waste disposal?
It would be were Close the Gap ship disused typewriters. However, Close the Gap only ships high-quality, well-working IT-equipment. Close the Gap extends the life span of the IT equipment allowing people who would otherwise not gain access to IT equipment to use them without problems. This way, IT equipment is passed on from one institution to the next to eventually – as experience has shown us – end up in private hands. Close the Gap is well aware of a possible waste problem in years to come. That is why possibilities are currently being examined to set up local facilities in time for the environmentally friendly disposal of waste products.
Why is there a need for Close the Gap, can’t a company organise something like this on its own?
Close the Gap ensures the identification and screening, the development, the application, and the assessment and supervision of projects. In clear terms, this means that Close the Gap performs a quality screening on the supply side. Only those computers that meet the minimum quality requirements are taken into consideration. Close the Gap then oversees and monitors the entire refurbishment process aimed at preparing IT equipment for re-use. A similar quality screening process is carried out with regard to possible beneficiaries. Close the Gap only collaborates with local authorities. This entails finding the right projects and negotiating the right costs (e.g. dispensation of certain transport duties). For commercial enterprises to take this upon themselves would imply a substantial investment (both in time, organisation and money).
Why not first take care of our own schools?
Across Europe, the aim to install at least one computer for every ten pupils has been largely achieved, often with the support of national governments. For example, schools in the Netherlands receive government grants to install classroom computers. Also, specific initiatives such as ‘Stichting Furbie Computers’ in the Netherlands and “Kids fur Schule” in Germany have recently been stopped, since the set goals have been achieved.
Why send computers to developing countries?
Close the Gap’s vision is based on a principle that one should provide the hungry with a fishing rod rather than giving them fish to eat, thus enabling them to provide for themselves. In a similar way, it is clear that the access to knowledge through the use of computers has a positive influence on development of communities, which ultimately helps fight poverty.