Released on: September 3, 2008, 7:26 am

Press Release Author: Wildfire PR / Computer Aid

Industry: Computers

Press Release Summary: IT industry charity Computer Aid International, is inviting
IT professionals and PC enthusiasts to join a fundraising expedition across the
remote Simien Mountains in Ethiopia. Every person who takes part will kit out an
Ethiopian school with a complete suite of 20 PCs, providing around 1,000 children
with the IT skills they will desperately need to find work, access higher education,
or start a business.

Press Release Body: Computer Aid fundraising challenge to equip schools in Ethiopia
with PC labs

London, September 3rd 2008: IT industry charity Computer Aid International, is
inviting IT professionals and PC enthusiasts to join a fundraising expedition across
the remote Simien Mountains in Ethiopia. Every person who takes part will kit out
an Ethiopian school with a complete suite of 20 PCs, providing around 1,000 children
with the IT skills they will desperately need to find work, access higher education,
or start a business.

The expedition will span nine days, from February 28th to March 8th 2009, with a
full five days’ trekking off the beaten track, with sight-seeing opportunities in
Addis Ababa and historic Gonder. Starting in the eucalyptus groves of Debark, the
trekking party will see some of the most spectacular scenery in Ethiopia, including
a trip through the Wazla Valley and a climb to Imet Gogo, the best known observation
point in the Simien Mountains at 3,926m above sea level. Participants will also get
to visit a school using Computer Aid PCs, to see how their efforts will benefit
children in the developing world.

Open to anyone of average fitness, IT professionals and PC enthusiasts can take part
in the Ethiopia trek for only £199, plus minimum sponsorship. The sponsorship pays
for Computer Aid’s work in equipping Ethiopian schools with IT facilities and also
meets the cost of flights, transport and accommodation. Computer Aid will provide
all participants with training and fundraising help, as well as plenty of support
and advice from the charity’s dedicated Ethiopia trek team.

The challenge builds on the success of previous Computer Aid fundraising events in
Kenya, Cuba and Madagascar, which have together equipped over 80 schools and
hospitals with IT facilities.

“Around five billion people the world have no access to IT equipment, but IT skills
are vital to address the underlying causes of poverty in the developing world. By
joining our Ethiopia adventure the IT industry can actively help Computer Aid
provide Ethiopian schools with the hardware, training and support that we all take
for granted in the UK. It’s a fantastic opportunity for you to give school children
the IT skills they need to participate in the global economy and develop their
communities, whilst pushing yourself to personal limits in a spectacular and unique
part of the world,” said Louise Richards, CEO of Computer Aid International.


Visit www.computeraid.org/ethiopia to register today! Alternatively, email
ethiopia@computeraid.org or call Stephen Campbell on 020 8361 5540 for a free,
no-obligation information pack.

Ends


NOTES TO EDITORS
Media contact:
Kate Solomon / Louise Andrews
Wildfire PR
Tel: 020 8339 4420
Email: computeraid@wildfirepr.co.uk


About Computer Aid International (www.computeraid.org)
Computer Aid International is a registered charity (no 1069256) and the world’s
largest and most experienced not-for-profit supplier of professionally refurbished
computers to developing countries.

Since it was founded in 1998, Computer Aid has provided over 125,000 PCs to
organisations in more than 100 developing countries. Based in London, Computer Aid
International fully tests, professionally refurbishes, upgrades, packs and ships
Pentium 3 and Pentium 4 computers donated by UK companies for re-use in schools and
not-for-profit organisations overseas.

Computer Aid International is committed to providing the highest level
decommissioning service to its UK computer donors and to delivering the highest
quality refurbished computers to recipient organisations overseas. PC donors in the
UK include British Airways, Ford, Virgin, Investec, the National Audit Office, Royal
Mint, Packard Bell and Christian Aid. PC distribution in developing countries is
achieved through strategic partnerships with partners such as SchoolNet Africa,
British Council, UN-Habitat, and the national Computers for Schools programmes of
Chile, Kenya, Zambia and other countries.



Web Site: http://computeraid.org

Contact Details: Kate Solomon
Wildfire PR, The Sanctuary, 23 Oakhill Grove, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 6DU
0208 339 4420
computeraid@wildfirepr.co.uk