Why we do what we do

In 1999, I, then a Rotarian from the Fairmont Rotary Club in Fairmont Minnesota, read an article about Rotary Clubs (and other organizations) who had collected and shipped computers to developing countries with the intent that they would learn to use this technology in their schools. The computers sent were: IBM PC’s, Apple computers, Atari’s and a variety of other microprocessors. Some worked – some did not. One PC was not necessarily like another.

The enthusiastic recipients attempted to connect monitors, keyboards and mice to the various processors and see what they might do with them. If they did get some entire computer to work they, again, had to go through the same process to get the next computer working. As you can imagine, the recipients got frustrated and the well-intentioned gifts just sat or got discarded.

The CAFÉ changed all that.

1. CAFÉ only collects late model PC’s that are compatible with the Microsoft Operating System.
2. CAFÉ then installs the latest MS operating system that the Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation offers. Currently it is WIN/2000
3. CAFÉ then installs programs that are useful to the purpose for which these PC’s will be used.
4. The completed PC’s, that all function identically, are then shipped to the recipient country.
5. Frequently, CAFÉ will send a team of teacher/technician to that country to help install the PC’s in schools and medical facilities.
6. The CAFÉ team will then teach school instructors or medical personnel how to use their newly acquired gifts.

Discarded PC's

Late model PC's

Setting up PC's

Utilizing valuable space

CAFE teachers/technicians