Displaced Tamil schoolchildren now have the world at their fingertips, with our refurbished laptops finding a new home in remote areas of Sri Lanka, thanks to SA Power Networks and a local charity started by former refugees.

Back in June, we donated 10 refurbished laptops to help Tamil schoolchildren in the war-affected areas of Sri Lanka.   

Those laptops have now been handed over to the schoolkids who need them, thanks to People Welfare Association Australia (PWAA).  

Representative of our I&D Committee, Adrian Jeremiah, said the laptops will make a huge difference to the children’s lives. “These laptops are helping children in very remote areas who have been displaced by war, giving them access to a world beyond their homes,” he said. “Items we no longer utilise can provide significant utility to under-served communities. I personally have been on the receiving end; such help goes a long way towards the education and uplifting the children’s future.”

The charity, started by former refugees, had been receiving increasing requests for technology to help the children with their learning. They made a request to Adrian, who then reached out to our IT Asset Management (ITAM) team. The team was able to refurbish 10 laptops no longer required by SA Power Networks.

On Tuesday 10 June, the laptops were presented to Guru, along with PWAA Secretary Kamalathas Kandiaha and committee member Baskaran Kathiresu, by CEO Andrew Bills and CDO Eva Balan-Vnuk.

Helping others 

This isn’t the first time ITAM's work has helped others. Previously, our refurbished laptops have been donated to help Ukrainian refugees and BlazeAid on Kangaroo Island. They have also held internal ‘garage sale events’ with money raised going to local South Australian charities through the SA Power Networks Employee Foundation.

Laptops delivered

See pictures of some of the students receiving their laptops below.