About WCE
Expand minds, not landfills
World Computer Exchange is a global education & environment nonprofit that helps connect youth in 65 developing countries to the skills, opportunities & understanding of the Internet while keeping working computers out of landfills.
Our services
- Used computers: WCE volunteers gather and then ship donated used Pentium 3 and 4 desktop and laptop computers to our Partner organisations.
- Capacity building: WCE volunteers provide ongoing online help related to project planning, partnership development, fund raising, tech support, content support, teacher training and responsible disposal of e-waste.
- Visiting tech teams: WCE sends teams of volunteer university students or tech professionals after the computers our volunteers have shipped arrive and have been installed. They provide help with trouble-shooting, upgrading the networks, and training in the use of the Internet to improve education.
- e-Waste help: WCE staff and volunteers work with a consortium of environmental groups to help our Partners and others raise public awareness about the "whys & hows" of appropriate recycling of electronic equipment. Our volunteers help to build capacity in this area and our visiting teams usuallyinclude one of our volunteer eWaste Researchers.
A grassroots volunteer organization
Our 700 volunteers work in the field and through our twenty Chapters in Canada, the USA and Sweden. We are exploring starting new chapters in India, New Zealand and Chile.
- Our field volunteers work with 25 global education allies to help our grassroots network of 465 Partner organisations build capacity in project planning, partnership development, fund raising, tech support, content development, teacher training and responsible disposal of e-waste. Central to this work are our 195 Program Officers.
- Our chapter volunteers have gathered, tested & shipped 26,700 computers that connect 2,550 schools, libraries, orphanages & youth centres used by over a million youth per year. They also help us recruit financial Sponsors for shipments as well as help us with marketing and our education activities.
A transparent organization
WCE believes in taking an open and public approach to its activities and operations. By following a philosophy of organisational “transparency” we use this website and other means of communications to provide you with an ongoing flow of information about WCE's plans and activities.
Fund raising and administrative costs
For the last two fiscal years, our independent audit has shown our combined total of fund raising and administrative costs have been under 7%. These calculations do not include the in-kind donated value of the time of our 700 volunteers.
WCE Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2008
WCE Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2007
