Recycling computers responsibly in our global community! 

                News from Wings for West Africa

       2009

               December 2009

                        A computer drive was held at Noblesville High School under the direction of Ted Ringle, Noblesville HS Recycling Club sponsor.

               November 2009

                        In celebration of National Recycling Day a computer drive was held this month at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. The work of Wings was acknowledged in an article published in the Criterion Indianapolis Diocesan newspaper.

                        Wings began initial research toward the goal of establishing a computer recycling center in Senegal, West Africa.

               October 2009

                        Following a presentation by board member John Schaaf, the IT network in Columbia City, Indiana decided to support Wings by pooling their surplus computers and transporting these donations to Wings

                        Wings received a grant from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church which will permit long-term rental of space to store computers locally prior to transfer to Anderson, Indiana for packing and shipping.

                September 2009

                        150 computer systems were transported from our donated warehouse space in Anderson, Indiana to Atlanta, Georgia for shipment by ocean container to Dakar, Senegal.

                July 2009

                        Susan Seal joined the board of Wings in the new position of Promotions Director responsible for developing contacts with and making presentations to potential computer drive host schools and churches, scheduling drives, and for external publicity for computer drives

             May 2009

                        Equipment collected at drives held at Cathedral High School and Holy Spirit of Geist Church completed the number needed for our next shipment. All of the drives this spring have been coordinated with Work Force, Inc. which recycles the machines we can’t use and provides re-entry training to ex-offenders.

             April 2009

                        Computer drives held at Unitarian Universalist Church and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church produced a significant number of good quality computers and monitors.

                        The board of Wings for West Africa was expanded to include Computer Drive Coordinator Mike Zierdt.

             March 2009

                        A very successful school-based computer drive was sponsored by the Eco Impact Club of North Central High School, Indianapolis..

                        Wings expanded its membership to include three new computer technicians, two computer drive coordinators and a grant writer.

                 February 2009

                        The Westfield Middle School Environmental Club held a very successful first school computer drive for Wings for West Africa, thus beginning a very promising partnership with Work Force, Inc. to which it donated for recycling machines too old or damaged to be sent to schools in West Africa.

                        Technician. Larry Montag, joined Wings and quickly began doing an amazing job refurbishing the many CPU’s collected in the spring drives.

                 January 2009

                        Wings for West Africa participated in the Creation Care Workshop sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance of Indianapolis. 90 area churches were contacted and encouraged to consider a computer drive as part of their green ministry

             2008

             November 2008

                        Wings for West Africa participated in the Helping Hands Festival sponsored by Global Gifts at St. Richard’s School, Indianapolis.

                 October 2008

                        Wings moved its shipping operation to Monday Voigt Products warehouse in Anderson, Indiana, allowing for professional wrapping of pallets and dockside pick-up.

              August 2008:

                        St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis conducted computer drives for the benefit of Wings for West Africa.

              June 2008:

                        North Central High School student, Miles Johnson, traveled to Senegal where he assisted in the distribution of over 2,000 pairs of donated eye glasses and conducted a computer training workshop on equipment donated by Wings.

         May 2008:  

                        The third annual Soirée sénégalaise was held by French students at North Central High School, Indianapolis, to raise funds for their project directed by Wings President, Kathleen Lattimer, to outfit a middle school in Diofior, Senegal, with much-needed equipment and supplies. Dozens of guests were treated to an evening of Senegalese food, dance, a traditional drummer and market.

                 April 2008:

                       Wings sent 110 computer stations, printers and other school related equipment to a dozen of schools in Senegal.

               2007

                November 2007:

                        Wings donated and shipped more than 100 computers and printers to ten schools in Senegal.

                September 2007:  

                        A student chapter of Wings for West Africa was organized at the Canterbury School, an independent   K-12 school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, under the leadership of student, David Witwer. This group is doing an excellent job of  collecting computers and communicating the mission of Wings for West Africa to the Fort Wayne community

                June 2007: 

                        Wings for West Africa President, Kathleen Lattimer, and Vice-President, Habib Diatta, presented at the Education Roundtable discussion at Indiana Black Expo Black Business Conference International Economic Development Forum. The primary goal was to seek partners in their development of a two-way exchange program for thirty teachers from Indianapolis and Senegal planned for 2008-2009.  We are also seeing support for the on-going development of teacher training in schools which have received computers from Wings.

                April 2007:  

                        Wings President, Kathleen Lattimer, and North Central High School French Honor Society President, Nick Johnson, presented the work of Wings to the student body of University High School in Indianapolis. As a result, a new student club was formed. It has already become active in supporting the work of Wings by helping to prepare the next group of computers for shipment and is planning a satellite project for the coming school year.

                March 2007:

                        100 computers and 10 printers, destined for 10 secondary schools in Senegal, began their journey by ocean container from the U.S. to the port of Dakar, the capital of Senegal.