Teens to fix, donate computers

MURRAY — It's a project that April Buckway, 14, calls "Awesome."

She's one of dozens of students at the Academy for Math and Sciences charter school who'll rebuild donated computers and install software. Then, the computers will be shipped to Mali where students can use them.

"I thought it would be interesting to learn all about the computer," said Buckway.

The students lined up Monday afternoon to unload about 300 computers, which were surplus donations from Logan School District.

"It's going to be a blast," said Chad Vargo, 16. "It is a very good service project."

The Sandy based nonprofit Daily Dose Foundation hopes to be able to start sending the computers to Mali middle schools next month, said executive director Yeah Samake.

"It's very valuable," Samake said. "Computers are just coming now. When I graduated college (in Mali) in 1997, very few students could use the computer."

Another batch of surplus computers from Emery School District, along with desks and chairs from both districts will be stored temporarily at Franklin Covey, Samake said. The foundation is looking for another school to rebuild those computers.

Samake said much of the furniture will be used in three classrooms the foundation plans to construct in the town of Tentou, which — like 60 percent of the country — doesn't have electricity. The computers will go to schools in urban areas.

"Our goal is to make sure these things have a significant impact, make a significant difference in the lives of the people," Samake said.

Marjorie Tuckett, AMES community connected learning coordinator, said six students will be working on the computers as part of their 160-hour required volunteer internships, and some 100 to 150 students will learn to rebuild the computers as part of a class.

"It's definitely worthwhile," said Jeff Miller, owner of Jeff Miller Landscapes, one of five businesses that donated time and vehicles to transport the computers from Logan.

"It's going to educate people," Miller said. "It will give them a chance to earn their own money, to come out of poverty."

The Daily Dose Foundation, www.dailydosefoundation.org, has a mission to provide better access to education for children around the world.

---

E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com