Camara is a
social enterprise
A social enterprise is an organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements in financial, social and environmental well-being. This may include maximizing social impact alongside profits for co-owners.
Social enterprises ha ...
that sends refurbished
computers
A computer is a machine that can be programmed to automatically carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations ('' computation''). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic sets of operations known as ''programs'', ...
and provides
digital literacy
Digital literacy is an individual's ability to find, evaluate, and communicate information using typing or digital media platforms. Digital literacy combines technical and cognitive abilities; it consists of using information and communication tec ...
training to schools and other educational institutions in
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
,
Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
,
Zambia
Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa. It is typically referred to being in South-Central Africa or Southern Africa. It is bor ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...
and Ireland.
History
Camara was founded in 2005 by Cormac Lynch, a former engineer and investment banker, who after a visit to Ethiopia saw an opportunity to use technology to enhance education in some of the world's most disadvantaged communities. Lynch heard from schools that computers were what were needed most. On his return to Dublin he saw a skip-load of discarded PCs, when an idea struck, which would see Camara give end of life computers a new lease of life and benefit school children in disadvantaged communities.
The name 'Camara' comes from a west African
Bantu dialect and means 'teacher' or 'one who teaches with experience'. Many people read it as 'Camera' and pronounce it as such, however the correct pronunciation is . The organisation's logo, the ANANSE NTONTAN ("spider's web"), comes from the adinkra symbols found in Ghana and historically used by the Asante tribe on cloth, walls and in pottery.
Ninth President of Ireland
Michael D. Higgins
Michael Daniel Higgins (; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, broadcaster, and sociologist who has been serving as the president of Ireland since 2011. Entering national politics through the Labour Party, he served as a senator ...
is one of the organisation's patrons, as is British film producer and educator
Lord David Puttnam.
Awards
*In 2018 Camara Education won the Good Governance Award for their Annual Report and Financial Statements.
*In 2016 Camara Education received an Innovative Programme of the Year 2016 Dóchas Award with the iMlango programme in Kenya.
*In 2013 Camara Education received an ICT Excellence award for Best Use of Technology in Education or Training.
*In 2012 Camara Education received the
Lord Mayor
Lord mayor is a title of a mayor of what is usually a major city in a Commonwealth realm, with special recognition bestowed by the sovereign. However, the title or an equivalent is present in other countries, including forms such as "high mayor". A ...
's Award, this honoured Camara for its special contribution to Dublin and its citizens.
*In 2012 Camara Education ranked 32nd at the
Deloitte
Deloitte is a multinational professional services network based in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest professional services network in the world by revenue and number of employees, and is one of the Big Four accounting firms, along wi ...
Technology Fast 50 Award that honours business growth, technological innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
*In 2012 Camara Rwanda, a Hub of Camara Education, received the 'Japanese Award for most Innovative Development Project' at the 12th annual
Global Development Network
The Global Development Network (GDN) is a worldwide network of research and policy institutes working to provide new perspectives to the development challenges of our time. A spin-off of the World Bank, GDN works to make policy-relevant research a ...
conference in January 2011.
*In 2011 Camara Education reached the 15th place of the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Award.
*In 2010 Camara received the
Arthur Guinness Fund award.
See also
*
Computer recycling
Electronic waste recycling, electronics recycling, or e-waste recycling is the disassembly and separation of components and raw materials of waste electronics; when referring to specific types of e-waste, the terms like computer recycling or mo ...
*
Electronic waste by country
Electronic waste is a significant part of today's global, post-consumer waste stream. Efforts are being made to recycle and reduce this waste.
Basel Convention
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste ...
*
Computer technology for developing areas
Computer technology for developing areas is a field focused on using technology to improve the quality of life and support economic development in regions with limited access to resources and infrastructure. This area of research seeks to address t ...
References
External links
Camara
{{DEFAULTSORT:Camara (Charity)
Development charities based in the Republic of Ireland
Information technology charities
Computer recycling