Scientists send surplus laptops to Malawi’s school kids
Published: 18 June 2013
Scientists at the University of Glasgow have teamed up with a new Scottish charity to send used laptops to school children in Malawi.
Scientists at the University of Glasgow have teamed up with a new Scottish charity to send used laptops to school children in Malawi.
Staff from The Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology in the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, along with colleagues from the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, have all pledged their support for the ‘Malaptop’ initiative.
The charity, set up in 2012 by friends Simon Cleary and Clare Ridler, has already sent its first batch of computers to Mangochi on the southern tip of Lake Malawi, and will soon be sending more.
The computers sent by the University will be loaded with educational materials such as the very successful Malaria and Parasite comics developed by The Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology before they leave for Malawi.
Professor Andy Waters, Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, said: “This link up with Malaptop is a great use of our redundant laptops and gives our Centre the opportunity to send our educational materials to schools in Malawi and the surrounding area.
“We already have existing educational and research links in Malawi and we would hope to be able to develop this initiative further using those links.”
Simon Cleary said: “The resources have been enthusiastically received by Malaptop. This is a brilliant partnership because it allows the resources created by the Wellcome Trust Centre to get into communities in Malawi where they will be used. The resources will be preloaded onto all laptops going out, helping them have a much bigger impact.”
Malaptop are continuing to accept laptops that could be put to good use in Malawi and are keen to hear from any departments, organisations or individuals who would like to get involved.
Find out more
For more information contact:
Stuart Forsyth in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 4831 or email stuart.forsyth@glasgow.ac.uk
Alexandra MacKay, Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, on 0141 330 2684 or email alex.mackay@glasgow.ac.uk
Simon Cleary, Malaptop, on 07779 056 101 or email simon@malaptop.org
Notes to Editors
Intelligent comic educating researchers of tomorrow: http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_233072_en.html
Malaria comic: http://www.malariacomic.com/Home.html
Malaptop - http://malaptop.org/
First published: 18 June 2013
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