Donated laptops from Cayman Islands reach Ukraine’s schoolchildren

More than 180 laptops donated by individuals and businesses across Grand Cayman have been successfully delivered to war-torn Ukraine.

Local businessman and Austrian Honorary Consul Martin Richter issued an urgent appeal for unwanted laptops last year so that children in the worst-hit regions could continue their education online despite the hardships caused by war.

Appeal for donations

Richter, who has been raising funds and equipment for Ukraine since the conflict began, met with businesses and groups across Cayman to raise awareness for the appeal.

Richter confirmed that the laptops have now reached their intended destinations and praised everyone who was able to help with the appeal.

“The fact that the biggest single donation came from the smallest community, shows just what can be achieved when everyone works together,” he said. “It is a huge amount.”

He said that the successful outcome wouldn’t have been possible without Jennifer Kaufman of Sta Mar Enterprises freight forwarders. Every laptop had to be wiped clean of data and then checked by the police in case any had been reported stolen, before being sent off island.

“Miss Jennifer was dynamite; she had to do the paperwork three or four times,” he said. “Each laptop had to be individually registered with RCIPS for exportation, which took days to do – it was a lot of paperwork.”

The appeal was organised by Rotary Club International in Kharkiv. Sergii Grafix from Kharkiv Rotary said, “It was a very challenging and complicated delivery which took a lot of time and money due to regulations, but the laptops have now been delivered.

“These children have no possibility to go to schools and receive a proper education there, so we are very grateful to our friends and colleagues for supporting us through this lengthy process.”

With 90% of the schools having been destroyed in some regions, the only chance of an education is through online schooling through the Starlink network.

While donations of laptops such as the ones from the Cayman Islands will make a huge difference to the recipients, Richter said that around 3,000-4,000 more laptops are still needed, with the amount getting bigger by the day.