Restore A Sense of I Can (RSC) is a non-profit organization with its goal ?Effecting change through technology and education?. RSC was established in August 2014 and registered under the 1995 Companies Act. RSC evolved from the Corporate and Social Responsibility program of its parent company RSC International Ltd. Being an education based company, the main projects involve students at the primary and secondary school level.
Activities include:
1. Collection of used ICT equipment.
2. Refurbishment and donation of these equipment.
3. Offer training and support in technology and related issues especially e-waste management.
4. Assist in developing and supporting technology clubs in schools.
5. Act as a central body allowing various organizations and groups to access and offer support to the IT Clubs.
6. Use technology and digital content to assist low performance students.
RSC currently has five IT clubs in Trinidad, one in Belize and one in St Lucia and in 2015, received the Community Heroes Award from the Ministry of Community Development in Trinidad and Tobago for their work in refurbishing computers and donating them to the sectors in community. As a result of these activities RSC has identified a huge problem with e-Waste disposal in Trinidad and Tobago. A significant amount of people simply indiscriminately dump e-Waste in our landfills causing POPs to enter our soil and water system. (Appendix 1 Pops and e-waste dangers)
RSC?s project R.I.D.E. (Reduction of Indiscriminate Dumping of E-waste) seeks to educate the public at large using the RSC IT club and its students as a base, on the dangers of dumping of hazardous material and also provide an avenue for recycling of E-waste. RSC has also solicited the assistance of other major stakeholders/beneficiaries like TTMA (Trinidad and Tobago manufacturing association), TTCSI (Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Service Industries), the Energy Chamber and the Environment Management Authority (EMA).
Through R.I.D.E. over the period of one year RSC will establish at least 20 new IT clubs in line with the RSC model, develop a POPs E-waste educational program and disseminate this information through partnerships with all major stakeholders. By creating an increase in the awareness of the issues of indiscriminate dumping of E-waste, there will be a reduction in further soil and water contamination and eventually can result in public participation in advocacy for proper disposal facilities and legislation to assist with the problem and violators. This is in alignment with the SGP CPS local to global chemical coalition objectives viz. ?reduction in use of POPs, ODS and other harmful chemicals; education, awareness in identification and effects of POPs, ODS and other harmful chemicals; recycling and waste management programmes? (Page 13, SGP COUNTRY PROGRAMME STRATEGY FOR OP6 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO).
The project is expected to cost $ 99,886.76 USD and RSC is seeking funding for $ 49,935.41 USD from the GEF SGP grant. The difference of $ 49,951.35 USD will be a combination of contribution in kind ($ 38,837.04 USD) and cash ($ 11,114.32 USD).