The Electronic Recycling Association is excited to announce the donation of 10 computers to Explorations Learning in Montreal. Explorations’ mission is to connect, inspire and empower learners and educators. This donation is for their intergenerational educational program. It merges creative writing and digital literacy by using the conventions from the epistolary genre as well as role-playing game techniques, where the participants will write letters via email to each other as fictional characters that they will create. This project connects generations by merging digital literacy, arts education, and empathy-building altogether.
Explorations was founded in 1981 by a group of McGill University Professors. Founding goals included research on “giftedness,” the development of a model program, and general support for teacher education — a camp that engaged children in a rich learning environment and where learning and fun were synonymous. Activities continue to be led by certified teachers who are specialists in the fields of mathematics, fine arts, technology and media, science, music, physical education, environmental studies, and early childhood education. The camp also engages local senior High School and College students who participate as Camp Assistants. Many are former Explorations campers.
Children are grouped by age and interests. Exposure to guest “experts” and participation in field trips further enrich this unique camp experience. Their Panorama Programs include visits with local scientists, universities, hospitals, and private labs. Their newly established partnership with McGill Physics will feature hands-on engagement with McGill Graduate students.
The Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 to address the growing problem of e-waste and the increasing ‘digital divide’. For over fifteen years, ERA has offered simple solutions to help individuals and organizations prevent operational equipment from premature destruction. With a focus on recovery, refurbishment and reuse, ERA continuously supplies charitable groups with donated IT equipment while securely managing the retiring IT assets of organizations and individuals across Canada. We believe that reuse before recycling is critical in managing the waste created by computer hardware, and by offering industry leading data destruction for all equipment we receive, we have securely repurposed hundreds of tons of equipment. Because not everything ERA receives can be reasonably repurposed, we have partnered with certified recycling organizations to process equipment that has reached the end of its productive life.