‘Don’t throw out your used devices’

KOTA KINABALU: If you have used smartphones, tablets or desktop computers that have been lying idle in your home, don’t throw them away – donate them to schoolchildren in need.

Many poor families in Sabah will be thankful as it will help them with their children’s online classes following the closure of schools due to Covid-19 movement controls.

Social worker Rebecca Chin Fong Lai (pic), who has been actively reaching out to poor families as well as providing hot meals to frontliners, is now turning her attention to help those badly in need of smartphones and other digital devices.

She was alerted to this when a Penampang family told her that their children found it difficult to attend online classes as they could not afford to buy each child a handphone.

“Both parents lost their jobs and they are asking people who are no longer using their old handphone to give it to them.

“Many families have more than two or three children attending online classes simultaneously and cannot afford one handphone for each child, ” said Chin, a professional artist.

She added that they just need help until government assistance kicks in.

Requests for used smartphones began pouring in on her “Beli Nothing” Facebook group where people give away used items, on condition that it was for personal use and not to be sold.

Chin has begun to reach out to friends and family members to donate their old but serviceable smartphones that could be given to families who need these digital devices for their kids’ education.

“Make sure the gadgets are working and have chargers and earphones, ” she said, adding that those donating could also consider sponsoring a SIM card for the phone as many poor families might find it difficult to come up with RM30.

“Whatever smartphone, tablet or computer that is working, we appreciate it, as many children need them now, ” she said, urging the public to assist.

She said some needed smartphones because they might have to leave their homes to go to areas with better Internet connectivity.

Chin added that she was in touch with other NGOs working in areas like northern Pitas and Kudat to identify families in need of help.

Those interested in helping can call Chin at 014-653 7589 for details.

On Thursday, state minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that the Sabah government and the education department were currently collecting data on students in need of such gadgets before a decision could be made to assist them.