Vicky Ford, Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, visited an Edinburgh-based charity that refurbishes old computers donated by the Brits and sends them to schools in an African country.
The Turing Trust, an Edinburgh charity run by the family of legendary codebreaker and mathematician Alan Turing, was launched in 2015 and has since refurbished over 9,200 PCs. Their work enabled over 81,000 students across Africa to learn how to use computers and benefit from that knowledge.
Visiting the charity today, February 16, Minister Ford said: "The UK Government is proud to help The Turing Trust build on the outstanding legacy of Alan Turing, by giving thousands of children in Malawi their first access to computer technology.
"I've been delighted to meet today with the family of the British icon who played such a significant role in sparking the digital revolution, to find out how they are now ensuring schools in some of the world's poorest communities across Malawi are not left behind.
"Computer skills are a crucial tool in giving vulnerable children a ladder out of poverty in the 21st century, and this project is the perfect example of UK aid supporting a Scottish charity to be a force for good in the world.
"Returning to Scotland, following the success of COP26 in Glasgow, it is inspiring to see first-hand how The Turing Trust is recycling technology to give it an important new purpose in Malawian schools."
The Turing Trust addresses a particular lack of ICT access amongst schoolgirls in Malawi, which ranked 149 out of 162 countries in a 2018 United Nations Gender Inequality Index study.
CEO of the charity, James Turing, said: "We've been thrilled to welcome Minister Ford to our HQ in Edinburgh today to discuss how UK aid has been helping to support our work in Malawi.
"My great uncle is often described as the father of modern computer science, so we are proud to be carrying on that legacy by helping some of the world poorest children get access to computers in schools.
"Our Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office funded project in Malawi has enabled us to save 807 British computers from being scrapped, installing them in 36 Malawian schools.
"This has given over 8,900 Malawian schoolgirls the life-changing opportunity to learn digital skills for the first time, opening doors to university, as well as a wide array of career paths.
"Our deepest thanks go out to the households and businesses who have donated their unwanted IT equipment. Whilst, they might not meet the demands for the typical British office or home setting, once we wipe and rebuild them, they are an invaluable resource for helping kids start their digital journey."
The Turing Trust has used a £50,000 Small Charities Challenge Fund grant from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to make significant progress in their work, bringing ICT equipment to 36 schools in Malawi. However, the charity also relies heavily on public donations in the shape of unwanted computers.
An 18-year-old Omega Gondwe, from Blantyre, in southern Malawi, is one of The Turing Trust's beneficiaries and now attends the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences.
She said: "I was in form three and had never used a computer in my life when our school received its delivery.
"It is hard for children to get access to computers, especially girls, because there was an idea that only guys can do IT things.
"Computers have opened up the world to me, and the ICT skills have helped me go to university where I am pursuing a career in IT. I get to prove IT skills are not just for boys.
"I feel I can be a part of growing Malawi because as a country, we are now finding our feet digitally."
