THANKS to donations of old computers from local people – and the extraordinary efforts of a Westbury couple – all public schools in the city of Mandaue in the Philippines now have access to IT equipment.

Last year James Lewis and his Filipino wife Cherry launched ‘Project 300,’ asking people to donate their old unwanted computers for use in schools in the Philippines.

Thanks to the generosity of local people and businesses, they reached their target of 300 computers and have recently returned from distributing them in the Philippines.

The city of Mandaue has around 44 public schools, and the computers will benefit children between the ages of 7 and 14.

In an age where computers are part of everyday life, computer literacy is a key skill for children if they are to keep up with their peers at college and get a good job in the future. Without computer skills, they are tied to lower paid jobs for the rest of their lives.

James started the project last year after visiting schools in the Philippines and seeing for himself just how little the children had to learn with.

Can you donate an old laptop, books, or clothes?

But James and Cherry have not finished. They are now appealing for donations of old laptops as they start a second phase of the project.

James said, “Five computers for 500 children is still not good enough for me. I want to have done another 300 by this time next year.

“There is such goodwill from the people here, who read our appeal in the newspaper. People keep coming back with a second or third computer!”

As well as laptops, donations of clothes and books are also welcomed. These are packed with the computers to protect them during transportation, and are then distributed to the very poorest people when the computers arrive at their destination. James said, “We want everything in the box to be of use at the other end. And clothes act as a really good insulator as well.”

They will continue collecting items until James goes back out to the Philippines in January.

If you would like to donate please contact James at lewis770@icloud.com or 07946 619 934

Pictured top right: Cherry and James Lewis are appealing for donations.