Free Computers for Schools

Rotarian Grahame Leon-Smith Chairman of Trustees Free Computers for Schools Visit their website at: http://www.free-computers.org

Grahame runs this entire charity on his own - with help from his wife, who takes all the phone messages. He tries to keep a "to do" list of all the people he needs to try and contact - enquirers, schools wishing to apply, prospective donors, Rotary Clubs etc, while he tries to deal with all the e-mails, including numerous requests from abroad.

The focus is on providing free computers to UK schools. The Charity work closely with a Rotary Club to persuade local companies to donate more computers, all of which of course go into local schools selected by the local Rotary Club.

An essential consideration for Rotary Clubs is that Free Computers for Schools will only consider propositions which involve a "complete suite" of 10-15 computers, access to the National Grid for Learning, a server (cost c£5000) and an ISDN link (cost c £790 pa).

They have already sent free computers to Africa, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iran, Ireland (North and South), Armenia and Russia, with Bangladesh and the Philippines in the pipeline.

All the expenses of running the charity come out of his personal pocket.

In March, Graham and his wife attended the Rotary International Millennium Festival of Fellowships in Auckland, New Zealand.  In San Diego, California on the way back they met with the Free Computers for Education US Steering Committee, which is hoping to launch the first US Pilot School in Oceanside.

To contact Grahame Leon-Smith at Free Computers:
E-mail: grahame.leon-smith@free-computers.org

This page was created by

from an e-mail sent by Grahame Leon-Smith

Last Updated: 19 April 2000