Camara (social enterprise)


Camara is a social enterprise that sends refurbished computers and provides digital literacy training to schools and other educational institutions in Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, Lesotho, Tanzania and Ireland.

History

Camara was founded in 2005 by Cormac Lynch, a former engineer and investment banker, who after a visit to Ethiopia saw an opportunity to use technology to enhance education in some of the world's most disadvantaged communities. Lynch heard from schools that computers were what were needed most. On his return to Dublin he saw a skip-load of discarded PCs, when an idea struck, which would see Camara give end of life computers a new lease of life and benefit school children in disadvantaged communities.
The name 'Camara' comes from a west African Bantu dialect and means 'teacher' or 'one who teaches with experience'. Many people read it as 'Camera' and pronounce it as such, however the correct pronunciation is. The organisation's logo, the ANANSE NTONTAN, comes from the adinkra symbols found in Ghana and historically used by the Asante tribe on cloth, walls and in pottery.
Ninth President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins is one of the organisation's patrons, as is British film producer and educator Lord David Puttnam.

Awards