Refurbished computers support recycling culture

Dubai: Over 1,000 refurbished computers were handed over to the National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) on Wednesday.

The computers, donated by Dubai Municipality and the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Establishment, will be used to train young UAE nationals in enhancing their technical skills in order to help them compete in the local job market.

Ceremony

The hand-over ceremony was held at the Used Computers Refurbishing Centre at Al Muhaisina with Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting director-general of Dubai Municipality, Ebrahim Bumelha, vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Foundation and Feddah Lootah, acting general manager of Tanmia all in attendance.

Hussain Lootah said: "Through this project we endeavour to support efforts aimed at developing national human resources and enhancing the recycling culture, especially when these computers will support programmes that seek to equip young nationals with new skills."

Since the launch of the Dh1.5 million project in February 2007, as many as 6,542 personal computers, 8,199 monitors, 2,214 printers, 446 scanners, 3,795 keyboards, 2,391 mouses, 328 speakers and 304 laptops have been received.

Bumelha said many organisations had been donating their old computers, which are refurbished with technical support from Microsoft, in a bid to support the initiative.

"We aim to collect around 5,000 computers a year and hope to make a total of 10,000, with more concerted efforts by different local and federal government bodies and private establishments," said Bumelha.

Individuals wishing to donate used equipment should contact Dubai Municipality's branch offices in various parts of the emirate or call its contact centre on 800 900.