London's Green MEP Jean Lambert is to visit Computer Aid, a Holloway computer refurbishing charity.
This marks the finale of Mrs Lambert's week-long tour of London's good practice businesses, community projects and organisations, under the theme of "jobs from recycling".
Computer Aid International is a UK charity based in Holloway which distributes second hand Pentium class PCs from the UK to developing countries. In doing this, it provides training to people from socially excluded groups in the UK.
Mrs Lambert said: "Every year in the UK approximately 2.5 million computers are dumped in landfill sites, a further 1.5 million are kept in storage and not put to use. Yet in the developing world 99% of schoolchildren graduate from high school not having seen or touched a computer in the classroom."
Computer Aid is aiming to bridge this digital gap by refurbishing computers from the UK for re-use in schools and community organisations in developing countries.
Mrs Lambert will be given a tour of Computer Aid's facilities and learn more about the projects being undertaken.
Mrs Lambert said: "This work not only provides educational and technical material to those in need in developing countries, but also helps the local community by offering training and work experience in computer repair to people from socially excluded communities in the UK.
"Recycling doesn't always have to mean plastic and glass - most materials that we buy on the high street should be re-used or recycled. Thinking like this makes a difference to everyone's environment and quality of life."
"Given my interest, and the growing role of the European Union, in the question of Social Inclusion, listening to the voices of communities and practitioners is essential. I am looking forward to this opportunity to hear first hand from those working to improve quality of life for residents both in Islington and globally."
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
1) Jean Lambert MEP's tour of local projects includes:
21st
July: Toynbee Hall Community Centre: Islington
23rd July: Shaftesbury Resources
Centre: Southwark
23rd July: Green Bottle Unit: Hackney
23rd July: London
Recycling: Newham
25th July: TRAID (Clothes from recycling): Brent
25th
July: Computer Aid: Holloway
For more information please contact Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280, 07973 823358 or at press@greenmeps.org.uk