I have collected old computers, repaired them, and then donated them to underprivileged people and village schools every weekend. I have always been interested in technology, and this curiosity has always pushed me to learn more about it. I wanted to use my knowledge to help others and make a difference for the longest time. I feel that this project will have a massive impact on sustainability and access to quality education.
Since Covid-19, all levels of education have shifted to an online mode. It wasn’t a problem for students like me as we have always had access to the internet. But for children living in villages or even those in cities with low income with no access to mobile phones or the internet, it meant an end to their studies and, consequently, their futures. It was in this situation that I decided to undertake this project. I had to spend around 40k INR to buy parts for repair and spent tens of hours, but in the end, I was able to donate 16 PCs and one laptop worth 1.75lakhs. Those PCs would have been thrown in a junkyard, causing pollution, but I was able to give them a new and valuable life.
Learning Outcomes:
LO1: Identify your own strengths and develop areas for growth
During this undertaking, I realized that while I had a lot of knowledge in theory, I lacked the experience repairing computers required. I realised that I must get more hands-on with computers and gather more experience with handling computer parts.
LO2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
I encountered many challenges during this experience. I felt I was being too inefficient at the start, taking too long to diagnose a computer and subsequently repairing it. But as I moved along, I started to notice a pattern in the errors the PCs would throw at me, which allowed me to diagnose very quickly, drastically reducing the time it took for me to fix a CPU.
LO3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
As this was a large project, this wouldn’t have been possible without planning. Firstly, I decided on a workshop to store all the PCs and spare parts. Then I enlisted help from an IT professional to help me with repetitive and tedious things like installing Windows 7. I also set goals and deadlines to motivate me. I also learned something during the project, such as the importance of cleanliness.
LO4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
Unlike what most people think, diagnosing and repairing a PC is a very tedious and labor-intensive process that will make you sweat buckets. At times, I would feel lazy and unmotivated. But then I would remember the importance of the work I was doing, and it would get me up on my feet again.
LO5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
This undertaking would have been impossible without help. I enlisted help from an IT professional and a helper to help me with reaching deadlines just on time. It was also enjoyable to work with other people, interacting and learning from them. It made me realize the importance of collaboration.
LO6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
Children all over the globe have been dropping out of school due to a lack of computers. I have tried to alleviate this problem to a small extent in my neighboring localities. Even one computer in a house can allow the whole family to access the world beyond them and pursue further education.
LO7: Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
I built 16 CPUs and one laptop, but I realize that this amount won’t help everyone in need. Therefore I must carefully identify those who need it the most and choose whom to give these PCs to, which showcases my ethics. Another example is that I always benchmark the computers thoroughly before giving them away to ensure system stability and long life.
In conclusion, this project has been an eye-opener in many aspects. It has taught me the importance of collaboration, perseverance, planning, regularly, and sincerity which will prove invaluable in the future and throughout life. It also enabled me to use my knowledge to help others and further my experience in computer hardware.
Evidence:
