Social project · digital inclusion · e-waste

Second life for electronics

We refurbish donated electronics so they can safely serve the next users.

Pilot · foundation-run · partners invited

Problem

Working or repairable electronics too often becomes waste while many people lack a computer needed for learning, work and access to digital services.

Goal

Safely refurbish donated electronics and pass them to people and organisations that need them for learning, work and contact.

Solution

The foundation accepts equipment from companies and donors, permanently erases data, refurbishes devices and passes them to participants in social programmes. We are looking for land in Warsaw for a container workshop. We invite Rotary Club Warszawa Józefów, the Eko Senior Foundation and other partners to join. The start does not depend on their funding decision.

Your role

  • Equipment donor
  • IT / logistics volunteer
  • Receiving organisation
  • Land host for the workshop
  • Student intern

The Second life for electronics programme accepts laptops, monitors, tablets, smartphones, printers and other devices that can be reused. We register the equipment, securely erase stored data, refurbish it and pass it to people who need it for learning, work and access to digital services.

The foundation runs the programme. We are looking for land in Warsaw for a container workshop. We invite Rotary Club Warszawa Józefów, the Eko Senior Foundation and other partners to cooperate.

We are looking for companies willing to donate post-lease equipment to the foundation. Data on drives and other media is permanently erased through a documented process, and the result is recorded in the device log. The scope of the confirmation issued to the donor is agreed in the equipment donation contract.

Linked to career activation and rewards in the Living Memory programme.

Who it is for

  • Foundation career activation programme participants
  • Seniors learning technology (Eko Senior invited)
  • Schools with limited IT budgets
  • IT volunteers - diagnostics, installation, training
  • Companies donating post-lease equipment
  • Institutions with land for a workshop

First stage

  • 40ft container workshop once land is found (foundation funds the shell)
  • Secure data-erasure procedure
  • First batch of refurbished devices
  • Short starter briefing for recipients

Funding: Foundation funds for the workshop start, equipment donations, later grants if any

Foundation model

We connect donors, IT volunteers and recipients, with a focus on data security and user briefing. The foundation funds the workshop start. Contract details and later development outside the social use are discussed off the public site.

How we refurbish equipment and erase data

Every device goes through the same documented process. We care about the security of the donor's data and about the recipient receiving working, safe equipment.

  1. Intake and registration: We log every device with a number, a condition note and the donor's details, and we keep an unbroken chain of custody from collection to handover.
  2. Diagnostics: We check components and the condition of the battery, screen and ports, then qualify the device for refurbishment, for parts or for recycling.
  3. Permanent data erasure: Before repairs begin, we erase every storage medium with an appropriate recognised method, verify the result and record it in the device log.
  4. Hardware refurbishment: We replace worn parts, clean the device, renew batteries and thermal paste, and then test the equipment under load.
  5. Installation and setup: We install a legal operating system and basic software, update security patches and prepare the device for the recipient.
  6. Final check and handover: We run a last test, sign a handover record and give the recipient a short starter briefing.

Secure wiping of drives and storage media

We match the erasure method to the type and condition of the medium. Deleting files or performing a quick format is not enough. Our procedure uses the Clear, Purge and Destroy categories described in NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2.

  • Spinning drives (HDD): a full-surface overwrite or the ATA Secure Erase command, with verification of the result.
  • SSD and NVMe drives: hardware erasure (ATA Secure Erase or NVMe Format) or cryptographic erasure, because a plain overwrite is unreliable on these drives.
  • Encrypted media: cryptographic erasure by permanently destroying the encryption key.
  • Phones and tablets: remove accounts and locks, confirm storage encryption, perform a factory reset and check the device after reset.
  • Damaged media that cannot be reliably erased: controlled physical destruction by an authorised contractor.

For each medium we record the device number, method, verification result, date and operator. The scope of the confirmation issued to the donor is agreed in the equipment donation contract.

How you can help

Choose how to get involved - email or (soon) online form.

IT volunteering

We are looking for volunteers. Diagnostics, system installation, user training (2–5 people).

Placements, theses and research

For outstanding candidates: placements in every format (on-site, remote, hybrid), research commissions, sponsorship of engineering, master's and doctoral theses, and joint research with a university.

Newsletter / waitlist

Need equipment or want to donate a device? Sign up.

Donation

Support parts, storage media and equipment transport.

Post-lease equipment from companies

We are looking for companies willing to donate post-lease equipment to the foundation. We register and refurbish every device, and permanently erase data from drives and other media through a documented process. The donor receives confirmation that the process was completed.

Land and pilot partner

We need a land host for a container workshop (about 50 m2, access, power) and schools, IT firms or collection points for a joint refurbished batch.

Programme partners

  • Rotary Club Warszawa Józefów (invited to cooperate)
  • Eko Senior Foundation (invited; Wojtek Iwulski)

Who we invite

Land hosts in Warsaw (about 50 m2, 230V)

Land hosts in Warsaw (about 50 m2, 230V)

Schools in the pilot area

Schools in the pilot area

IT companies (equipment donations)

IT companies (equipment donations)

E-waste collection points

E-waste collection points

Employment offices and activation centres

Employment offices and activation centres

Universities: IT placements

Universities: IT placements

Portal roadmap

30 days

  • Land search and 40ft container quotes
  • Secure refurbish procedure and IT volunteer recruitment
  • Invite Rotary, Eko Senior and equipment donors

90 days

  • After the workshop is sited: first collection of 5-10 devices
  • First handovers and a short starter briefing
  • Device count report (e-waste avoided, estimate)

Example social uses

  • A laptop for remote learning and official applications for a career-activation participant
  • A school computer when the IT budget cannot replace the fleet
  • A simple tablet for a senior, with a senior organisation
  • A student placement: intake, diagnostics, secure erasure
  • A company post-lease donation with a data-erasure record

Partnership

Fundacja Legacy and Innovation runs the programme. We invite Rotary Club Warszawa Józefów, the Eko Senior Foundation, schools, offices, companies and universities. A partner may point us to donors, land or recipients. Contract details are discussed off the public site.
  • Rotary Club Warszawa Józefów (invited)
  • Eko Senior Foundation (invited; Wojtek Iwulski)
  • Schools, employment offices, e-waste collection points
  • Companies donating post-lease equipment

We are looking for volunteers and academic partners

Across all foundation projects we seek volunteers for field work, documentation, education, logistics and participant care.

For outstanding candidates we offer placements in every format: on-site, remote and hybrid, as well as research commissions, sponsorship of engineering and master's theses, doctoral work and joint research with universities and student research groups.

Write to foundation@aimindllc.com with a short note on your interests and availability.