Volunteering at interconnection

I started volunteering at Interconnection -- a "non-profit organization that works to obtain used laptops and desktops from companies and individuals, refurbish them and put them in the hands of people in need. From our Seattle-based computer repair vocational program to non-profits and organizations far and wide, we make a connection that makes a difference. We create opportunity through computer reuse." -- on Tuesday. On Thursday I passed the test for their refurbishing vocational training class and am now refurbishing full-time.

What this entails is taking a PC that has been pre-screened to meet certain minimal criteria (careful screening and baseline standards eliminates shipping out e-waste) and putting the necessary components together for a basic system, then some preliminary software testing. The OS is not put on the box until the organisation knows where the computer is going.

At the moment we are shipping an order to Ecuador. In case you aren't good at geography I have embedded a little map.

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All in all this has been extremely rewarding, even though it is monetarily "free labor", there are a number of non-obvious benefits. Namely, keeping my resume sharp while I look for work. However, I want to add that I have a real interest in this organization because I too have been (albeit in a very limited fashion) doing a similar project on my own for a while. That is, fixing computers that no-one wants anymore and trying to put them in the hands of a young person that would otherwise never be able to have a computer.

With the help of family and friends I have sent a handful of computers to the Philippines and hope to send more. Unfortunately, my program has bogged down due to lack of funds.

I enjoy getting to meet some interesting people, learn about computer hardware hands on. If I get stuck, for instance, I had a media drive that needed to be switched on in the BIOS, we have several very knowledgeable people that are there to help.

This is an excellent environment to learn, and at the same time, know that you are making a big difference in peoples lives somewhere. (Yes, there is room for cynicism here:)

What I didn't know until my first interview was that we can barter our hours for computers. They have worked out an entire list of how those hours can be traded. I look at it as a great perk, and definitely not the motivating factor in my decision to volunteer.

I met a man from Columbia that was involved in the coffee trade. This was very interesting hearing about his life, I met another person who gave me a great tip on some funding for school I might be able to take advantage of. Another person was a computer technology teacher. Many and varied are the backgrounds, age, gender, and motivating factors present.

They run a retail store as well, all proceeds go to cover the NPO's expenses. (The biggest of which is shipping.) The folks at Interconnection have some very good and fair deals setting on the shelves waiting for you to take home.

In the market for a functional bargain computer? Want to make some new friends? Build confidence learning how to troubleshoot computers? Get real-world hands on experience applicable to the computer repair and refurbishing industry? Want to use your free time more constructively? Come on down.

I should also add that you do not need to have any prior experience, they have developed a nice "play-pen" to learn and grow in.

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Interconnection on facebook, twitter.