Here at the Turing Trust, we believe technology has the power to create lasting, meaningful change for both people and the planet. Over the years, we’ve saved over 6,000 tonnes of carbon through our IT reuse programme – but it doesn’t stop there.
Since 2022, we’ve been working with Sustainability Partnerships and the Mtuli Foundation to address climate change, bringing much-needed resources to schools across Malawi to ensure underserved communities are better equipped to tackle climate disasters.
A Call for Partnership
An estimated 3.6 billion people live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. Malawi is one of those areas, facing severe droughts and heatwaves in the north and devastating cyclones in the south.
The impact of these back-to-back climate disasters has been profound, affecting the nation’s food supply, economy and educational institutes. And with climate change expected to worsen in the years to come, something has to change.
Recognising this urgent need, our partnership with Sustainability Partnerships was born.
Connecting Education and Climate Action
Sustainability Partnerships’ 1.5 Max initiative has created a transformative platform for schools, students and community groups to come together, share experiences, and collaborate on climate-focused projects.
“Climate is a global problem, but it’s also a local problem. We encourage schools and communities to think global, act local, tackling matters of concern like water shortages, land use, and farming impacts unique to their regions.”
Howard Beck, Co-Founder of Sustainability Partnerships and Programme Director of the 1.5 MAX initiative
There are currently 14 schools and organisations involved in the programme led by the Mtuli Foundation, a youth-led nonprofit working to facilitate community-owned transformation. As the Malawi Country Coordinator, they work to connect participating schools with local youth groups and organisations to amplify young voices and facilitate collaborations that tackle climate challenges collectively. Howard Beck, Co-Founder of Sustainability Partnerships, notes: “With 50% of the population under 18, today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. The skills they’re developing through this initiative – social media, project management, and climate-specific – will drive the country’s future.”
The programme consists of three key phases:
- Investigate: Schools identify local climate issues.
- Summit: Students and teachers present projects, share solutions, and connect with peers across Malawi, Mozambique, and Scotland.
- Project: Schools implement their projects, learning essential skills in IT, project management, and community engagement.
The Role of Technology in Driving Change
Since 2022, we’ve been working alongside Sustainability Partnerships and the Mtuli Foundation to supply refurbished laptops to participating schools in underserved communities. With remote learning and collaboration at the heart of this project, donations like ours are vital to its success.
“Working with the Turing Trust is absolutely critical. They provide a reliable source of laptops to schools that would never otherwise have access to these resources. These devices are not just tools for education; they’re catalysts for connection and change.”
Howard Beck, Co-Founder of Sustainability Partnerships and Programme Director of the 1.5 MAX initiative
Our partnership has brought more than just technology to these communities; it’s given them access to vital tools for education and climate action. A great example of this is Together for Change, a youth group in Malawi dedicated to promoting gender equity as part of broader climate resilience efforts.
With climate-related disasters like cyclones and floods exacerbating sexual violence against women and girls, initiatives like this are key to addressing the often overlooked impacts of climate change, equipping young people with the knowledge and resources to drive meaningful change.
Howard Beck, Co-Founder of Sustainability Partnerships, adds: “Doing it together, we can achieve so much more. The partnership between Sustainability Partnerships, Mtuli Foundation, and The Turing Trust proves that combining resources, expertise, and passion can create a ripple effect, changing not just schools but entire communities.”
We’d also like to extend a special thanks to our donors for making projects like this possible. Our work relies on donations from people like you. If you’d like to get involved, please head over to our ‘Give Computers’ page to learn more about our computer reuse programme.
