Our stories
We've been working hard to bring refurbished technology to communities over the years, especially since the pandemic amplified the need. We want to share with you some of our favourite moments, many of which have been featured in the news! You can also watch our short documentary "Reaching Further" about our battle with the coronavirus in 2020.
Northern Manitoba deliveries to First Nations
Onboard VIA Rail Train #693, the service manager and I discussed our options. What if no one was at The Pas train station to receive the computers? For more than a week I had tried unsuccessfully to contact the person who was supposed to receive over 50 laptops, desktops, monitors and keyboards. As we crossed in and out of Saskatchewan time changed so our ETA was somewhat confusing. Lying in bed I resolved that if Jim Berscheid was not at The Pas train station when we would arrive at 3:00 a.m. on October 20th, we would be forced to keep the computers on the train and to
search for an alternative recipient in Thompson, Churchill or Winnipeg. When we arrived, Mr. Berscheid greeted us with his truck and his smile. Later that day we met Cleo Grandy in Thompson who received the remaining computers. The project which began with the Healthineers in Ottawa last June was completed on E-Waste Wednesday. Over 160 computers were generously donated, carefully refurbished and gently transported to fulfill a new purpose in the First Nations of Mathias Colomb, Shamattawa, Tadoule Lake and Split Lake.
Reaching Further - Virtual Workshops
Corporations for Community Connections (CFCC) has been working with Siemens Canada to refurbish and donate thousands of laptops to people in need for 10 years – a cause that’s more important than ever as we all do our part by staying home during the pandemic.
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CFCC and its corporate partners are reaching further to help get people online as schools, charities, government and business work from home.
Siemens Hope for Holidays 2019
About 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon a loud cheer came from the packing room announcing that Box #50 was sealed. Three hundred laptops had been successfully refurbished by more than 50 volunteers during CFCC’s 2-day workshop. The United Way distributed the laptops to 37 charities across Hamilton and Halton.
CFCC and Siemens Team Up with World Vision to Put Computers in Jema, Ghana
July 19, 2019
Siemens Canada generously donated 100 laptops to give 1500 students in rural Ghana their first opportunity to put their hands on a computer. Over 40 Siemens employees and their children volunteered to refurbish the laptops in a workshop conducted by CFCC. ​World Vision will deliver the laptops to the Kintampo Information Technology Centre. Ghana has gained global attention for their resolve to enter into and excel in the Digital World.
CFCC and Siemens Partner With HIP for First Nations Schools
April 05, 2019
First Nations schools receive substantially less funding than other public schools. Often First Nations schools lack the resources to prepare students to compete for careers in technology. CFCC and Siemens, through their continuing partnership with HIP (Honoring Indigenous Peoples), are helping to level the playing field by donating refurbished corporate laptops.
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In a 2-day workshop, held last April 5th and 6th, 78 volunteers successfully refurbished 206 laptops. These laptops were inspected, re-imaged with software, then cleaned and tested. CFCC's global award winning process turns such e-waste into a valuable resource for educational and vocational opportunities.
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Since 2010, Siemens has donated over 3000 laptops, diverting them from landfills, while changing the lives of thousands of people across Canada, as well as in Nepal, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Siemens Canada Donates 3000th Laptop
December 09, 2018
Siemens Canada has donated 3,000 laptops, since partnering with Corporations For Community Connections (CFCC) in 2010. These computers are changing the lives of over 40,000 people, closing the technology gap, and opening opportunities.
Digitalization has made access to a computer, and access to the Internet, a basic human right recognized by the United Nations. Yet, half the world remains disconnected from the world wide web. The decommissioned laptops are refurbished in workshops conducted by CFCC, such as the one at Siemens Canada headquarters in Oakville, this weekend. These computers will support education in First Nations Schools, assist homeless mothers, inspire disadvantaged children and open the digital world to rural students in The Philippines. Selling computers at fair market value does nothing to close the world's technology gap.
One Person's Trash is Another Person's Treasure (Article from Future Makers)
One Siemens employee is reinventing the way we dispose of our tech.
The idea didn’t come from the boardroom. It wasn’t the outcome of endless planning sessions. Instead, it was the result of a conversation between Philip Schaus and two fellow colleagues. And, despite its humble beginnings, it has already changed the lives of 30,000 people across the world.
Your Old Laptop Reaches New Heights
The earthquake in Nepal took almost everyone by surprise, though seismologists have long known that it was only a matter of time before another devastating quake hit the area, much like it had done in 1934. On April 25, 2015, that time came. Quebec doctors Rob Casserley and Marie-Kristelle Ross had just left base camp (5,300 metres) on their way up Mount Everest when the 7.8 magnitude quake struck. It proved to be the worst earthquake to hit Nepal since the 8.0 quake of ‘34, just 10 years after famed British climber Mallory went missing on the mountain.
CFCC Helps First “Connected” School in Nepal
The image of a technician suddenly appears on a big screen. At that moment, Shree Chheskam becomes Nepal’s first connected public school. Within days, 400 students begin classes in English and computer technology, in the shadow of Mount Everest. A charity founded by Siemens employees, Corporations For Community Connections (CFCC), refurbished 48 of Siemens Canada’s old laptops. Siemens Healthineers and EverestLink got the laptops to Chheskam, and set up the school’s remote learning centre. Half the world, 4 billion people, are “unconnected”. The United Nations has stated that connection is a basic human right. CFCC believes that refurbishing decommissioned computers for donation is socially, environmentally and financially responsible. In our digital world, CFCC is Turning Trash into Treasure!
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CFCC Supports Canadian Students
In November 2015, Corporations for Community Connections (CFCC) in partnership with Siemens Canada, a leading Canadian technology company, provided 140 refurbished laptops to the Halton District School Board. All donated laptops were prepared and tested during CFCC workshop, primarily staffed by Siemens volunteers at the end of November 2015. This initiative was a result of the time and efforts of more than 60 volunteers over the course of two full days.
Supporting Schools at Home and Abroad
To celebrate Canada’s 150th Anniversary Year, CFCC refurbishes and donates 300 computers to schools in Canada, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
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In June 2017, Siemens Canada donated 300 decommissioned laptops to CFCC to help students across the country and in developing nations gain greater access to technology, education and information. More than 60 volunteers at the weekend workshop refurbished the laptops.
Volunteer Workshop and Donation for Montreal
To celebrate the 2016 holiday season, CFCC’s organized the largest volunteer workshop to date to give a second life to more than 480 decommissioned computers. More than 130 volunteers from Siemens Canada and CFCC contributed their time and efforts in one of Siemens’ offices located in St. Laurent, QC.
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All refurbished laptops were distributed by the Salvation Army of Quebec to those in need in the greater Montreal area. The laptops will assist recipients with education, training, job searches and obtaining community resources.
Donation of 200 Laptops for Calgary's Syrian Refugees
In June 2016, CFCC prepared 230 Siemens Canada’s decommissioned laptops for a donation in support of Calgary’s newest residents. CFCC volunteers, Siemens employees and Syrian families volunteered at a workshop to complete the refurbishment of the computers, which were distributed by the Centre for Newcomers and Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association.
CFCC Hits Landmark 1000th Laptop
Corporations for Community Connections, Inc. (CFCC) – a registered charity whose purpose is to refurbish decommissioned corporate computers for donation – have worked to “turn trash into treasure” by refurbishing nearly 1,000 computers. These donations from Siemens Canada Limited, Atos, and Xerox Canada, have benefited 28 charitable organizations, serving over 7,000 people across Canada.
Siemens Canada Donates Laptops
In August 2014, Siemens Canada Limited has donated nearly 300 laptops to Corporations for Community Connections for refurbishment. The laptops were refurbished by CFCC’s and Siemens’ volunteers during the two-day long workshops.
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All laptops gained their second life to be further donated to The Salvation Army in three different communities, Montreal, QC, Tillsonburg, ON, and Fredericton, NB. The Salvation Army will distribute the laptops to various charitable organizations throughout these three communities.
