Great work as charity goes international for supplier FirstPort  

FirstPort, the residential property services provider, has teamed up with The Turing Trust to help equip a new computer lab at Ntchuwa Primary School in Salima District, Malawi.

The Turing Trust was formed by the family of Alan Turing, the legendary mathematician and computer scientist, best known for his work on breaking the German Enigma codes during the Second World War.

Today, the charity honours his contribution to the early years of computing, by providing quality IT resources and training to schools in sub-Saharan Africa. This is largely achieved by refurbishing computers donated by businesses and other organisations.

In early 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, FirstPort donated 68 tablets, which were then reprogrammed by Turing Trust volunteers at its headquarters in Edinburgh, ready to be issued to their new home. Many of the volunteers were trained in computer repairs by the Turing Trust.

Restrictions imposed due to the subsequent pandemic meant that deliveries were delayed. However, Ntchuwa Primary School eventually took receipt of the devices, which are now being used to teach IT skills to around 500 students per year.

Anthony Vaz, IT director at FirstPort says: “We are proud to have worked with the Turing Trust to donate equipment which will make a big difference to the education of pupils at Ntchuwa Primary School.

“At FirstPort, we understand the importance of technology as a means of communication and improving the way people live. We are delighted this equipment will now help children to develop their IT skills in their new computer lab!”

And James Turing of the Turing Trust, adds: “The donation of tablets from FirstPort has been truly transformational for hundreds of students at Ntchuwa Primary School in Malawi. For the first time students will be able to use digital resources to support their learning with local e-learning content.

“These tablets have also enabled us to support schools without access to electricity as we have been able to use solar power for these low-energy devices. So this has been very exciting as it is the first time that we have been able to deliver digital learning in off-grid environments using these technologies and will be a stepping-stone enabling us to support more communities with improved solutions in the future.

“We are extremely grateful to FirstPort for making this project possible and making a world of digital learning possible at Ntchuwa Primary School. Thank you.”

** This Easter, Letting Agent Today and Estate Agent Today are saluting those in our industry who raise money for others. It’s a small way of saying ‘thank you’. Our normal news stories resume on Tuesday April 6 - so in the meantime, respect to all fund-raisers!