Thumb Drives for Africa

Mule, along with long-time cohort Jeff Wishnie, is doing some probono work for a great organization called Inveneo. We're currently working on a redesign of their site.

Inveneo brings information and communication technology to the remote and rural third world by setting up low-wattage solar powered computers and networks with telephones (using voip) so that neighboring villages can communicate with each other. This means that that medicine that's needed from a town 40 kilometers away can be requested over the phone, instead of driving there and back.

Inveneo is also training local IT teams to install and maintain the networks; thereby creating local jobs and helping to stimulate the economy.

On a recent trip to Uganda, a local organization that is bringing computers to schools in rural areas asked Jeff to help supply them with USB sticks for data transfer and storage in the school labs.

Now that we live in the era of 2gb USB sticks, I bet you have some (a whole bunch?) of 16, 32, 64, and 128mb sticks lying around your desk, drawers, and in between your sofa cushions.

Why not donate them for a tax deduction and help out some African computer labs?

Also, cause I love you but I know you're lazy: We've set up an Amazon Wish List for Inveneo chock full of thumb drives. Help is one-click away.

Written by Mike Monteiro on December 12, 2006 |