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 ca ...
that sends refurbished
computers
A computer is a machine that can be programmed to carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (computation) automatically. Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic sets of operations known as programs. These programs ...
and provides
digital literacy
Digital literacy refers to an individual's ability to find, evaluate, and communicate information through typing and other media on various digital platforms. It is evaluated by an individual's grammar, composition, typing skills and ability to pro ...
training to schools and other educational institutions in
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
,
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
,
Zambia
Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...
,
Lesotho
Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...
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
Bantu may refer to:
*Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages
*Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language
* Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle
*Black Association for National ...
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 ( ga, Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, and broadcaster, who has served as the ninth president of Ireland since November 2011. Entering national politics throug ...
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's Award, this honoured Camara for its special contribution to Dublin and its citizens.
*In 2012 Camara Education ranked 32nd at the
Deloitte
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (), commonly referred to as Deloitte, is an international professional services network headquartered in London, England. Deloitte is the largest professional services network by revenue and number of profession ...
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
Computer recycling, electronic recycling or e-waste recycling is the disassembly and separation of components and raw materials of waste electronics. Although the procedures of re-use, donation and repair are not strictly recycling, these are oth ...
*
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 Wastes a ...
*
Computer technology for developing areas Computer technology for developing areas is often through the donation of technology to developing areas. Many institutions, government, charitable, and for-profit organizations require technology development often involving hardware or software des ...
References
External links
Camara
{{DEFAULTSORT:Camara (Charity)
Development charities based in the Republic of Ireland
Information technology charities
Computer recycling