Harper Macleod helps Turing Trust with computer donations to African schools

Alan Turing

The firm has donated IT equipment to the charity, set up by relatives of Alan Turing, the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence, which reuses computers and other IT equipment. The firm donated 29 PCs which will directly support 522 students to learn IT skills whilst also offsetting 14 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to planting 36 trees.

The Turing Trust supports education in sub-Saharan Africa by reusing computers and improving teacher training using ICT. The trust has reused over 4,200 PCs enabling more than 41,000 students to gain a digital education.

The charity won both the Young EDGE and first ever Social EDGE award at Scottish EDGE during 2018, a competition supported by Harper Macleod, and in the process made contact with one of the firm’s partners, Jo Nisbet.

Ms Nisbet said: “The Turing Trust is a fantastic organisation and after hearing the team speak so enthusiastically about their work at Young EDGE, I was delighted that we were able to make our own contribution to their ongoing efforts.

“There are so many benefits of reusing equipment in this way, not least the opportunities it provides to young people who might not otherwise have access to digital skills.”

Alan Turing was instrumental in breaking the German ciphers at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

James Turing, his great-nephew and a founder of The Turing Trust, said: “Harper Macleod’s recent donation of computers will have a fantastic impact directly supporting 522 students to learn IT skills whilst also offsetting 14 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

“We’re delighted to be supported by such wonderful companies that are so dedicated to working for good, helping us to promote education and protect the environment by reusing their old IT equipment. Thank you Harper Macleod.”