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Earthquakes in Haiti and Chile destroyed schools and community centers in both
countries. InterConnection helped them rebuild by partnering with
international relief organizations and donating refurbished computers.
Just a few days after the life changing earthquake in Haiti, the humanitarian
relief organization World Concern, reached
out to InterConnection about their need for computers. Five of
their offices in Haiti sustained significant damage and laptops were needed as
part of the rebuilding effort.
Susan Talbot, World Concern’s Gift-in-Kind Manager, stated, “Imagine the loss of
computers in this disaster. We work with orphans and vulnerable children and
their caregivers. Our offices have sustained unknown
amounts of damage. Our capacity to respond to disasters relies on our capacity
to communicate not only with each other but with donors and funders, sharing
beneficiary stories."
InterConnection immediately jumped into action by working with World Concern to
launch a campaign to receive laptop donations from businesses and individuals by
mail.
Within a few days donated laptops started to arrive from donors. On Susan’s
first trip to Haiti to deliver aid, she was able to bring eight fully
refurbished laptops for the offices.
Just one month after the earthquake in Haiti, southern Chile was
devastated by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake that killed 521 people and destroyed
hundreds of buildings.
InterConnection responded to the disaster by contacting one of the largest
international relief organizations, World
Vision, and offered to donate computers to rebuild schools.
 InterConnection donated 79 desktop computers that it had at its
distribution site in Santiago, Chile.
World Vision Chile director, Patricio Diaz, stated, "The computers will
replace the damaged computers in the community telecenters and administrative
offices as well as to equip some 'child friendly spaces' that are being
implemented (post traumatic Centers for boys and girls).
The donation to World Vision was highlighted at the NGO Day in Santiago. Chile's
first lady, Cecilia Morel,
visited InterConnection's Chile display and complimented their efforts to use
refurbished computers to rebuild communities.
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NEWSLETTER
Burkina
Faso is one of the most remote countries in Africa. It is also Africa's
poorest county. So access to computer technology is extremely limited.
Peace Corps Burkina Faso volunteer Casey Kean realized the benefits that
providing computers to communities would create and decided that donating
computers would be one of the main projects of his two year service. 
The
initial plan of sending the computers by ocean container was abandoned due to
time constraints, Casey ends his service in early June. The only choice
was to send the computers by air. Computers were packaged and sent to the
freight forwarder. A day before they were scheduled to be shipped a
volcano in Iceland erupted which grounded all flights for about a week.
Once flights were rescheduled there was a huge backlog among air carriers,
including Air Kenya, the main carrier into Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Air
Kenya placed an embargo on all new bookings. A new carrier was found, Air
France, that would accept the cargo. Air France's cargo rates were nearly
double the price of Air Kenya, but InterConnection agreed to cover the
difference to ensure the computers arrived on time. 
The
Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) presented their annual Recycler of
the Year Awards on May 25 at the Hilton Vancouver, Washington, featuring
organizations, businesses and individuals recognized for outstanding
achievements in recycling. InterConnection Founder and Director Charles Brennick
was on hand to accept the Innovative Recycler of the Year award based on our
unique program of refurbishing donated computer equipment to make technology
available to underserved communities locally and around the world.
Over the last few months we carried out several employee collection events with
companies in the Seattle area. 
