Start a Local Laptop Upcycle in Your Community
We at Laptop Upcycle are proud of our success and are thankful for the support we have received from our volunteers and the Montclair, NJ community. Our primary mission is to eliminate the technology gap for low income students. We deliver on this mission by obtaining laptops via donation from businesses and individuals which we renovate and give to deserving students. The work to repair, update, and image the hardware we give out is done by volunteers, primarily Middle and High School students who do the work in our lab in Montclair. We train and support our volunteers, and technical education for our young adults is another element of our mission. Finally, we are passionate about re-use and recycling of tech equipment to keep it out of the waste stream. Laptop Upcycle is a member of the Alliance for Technology Refurbishing & Reuse (AFTRR) and we share their mission of responsible recycling of electronic devices. Delivering a renovated laptop to a student who needs is is the best way for us to do this.
We believe every student everywhere should have access to the tools they need to learn.
If you share this vision and are interested in starting your own Laptop Upcycle, this page will provide you the information you need to get going. We are here to help you, but the first step and the required commitment is yours.
We understand that each community is different and your solution will be unique. There are a few critical success factors that you first must approach and resolve.
We believe every student everywhere should have access to the tools they need to learn.
If you share this vision and are interested in starting your own Laptop Upcycle, this page will provide you the information you need to get going. We are here to help you, but the first step and the required commitment is yours.
We understand that each community is different and your solution will be unique. There are a few critical success factors that you first must approach and resolve.
- Local leadership with commitment, time availability, and passion. This is perhaps the most important success factor. You will need a group (at least two) individuals who are responsible for the overall project. This leadership team will set the direction of your Laptop Upcycle and will manage the other volunteers/staff to deliver on your vision. This can not be just a hobby or part time dalliance. Your leadership team must be committed to the success of the project and share this passion with other volunteers. If you don't have this, read no further. Thanks
- Building a team. Beyond your leadership core, you should work to build a team of other volunteers to help you realize your vision. Understanding that all volunteers have limited time availability, you must be ready to work to identify and realize the contributions from volunteers as they can best help the overall project. Your team, all the volunteers must understand and be committed to your mission. Don't worry just yet about the details of what skills you need. We'll detail that down below in a bit.
- You must understand your markets. There are two of these (not counting volunteers) to understand and support for your Laptop Upcycle. First off, you have the market for donated laptops. We call these "Gives" because both individuals and small businesses "give" the laptops to us. For your Laptop Upcycle you will need to understand and build the market for Gives and instantiate an awareness in your community for the importance of your mission. Secondly, you need to analyze and understand the local market for "Gets", students or others who you designate as recipients of free laptops/technology. The obvious and first area to research are the local schools. What is the need and will the administration/Board of Education work with you to help solve their technology gap issues? Is there a need? Who else in your community needs the technology you are refurbishing? You need to map this all out.
- Funding and Infrastructure.