request laptops university
Request devices and a computer room for your university
Refurbished enterprise laptops, built into computer rooms where they reach many students at once. Devices are earned, not given away, because we want them to last and to matter.
In short
Access to technology should be a human right, not a privilege of geography or income. Building computer rooms at universities in the Global South and equipping them with modern devices is how Tembi Labs turns that belief into a place students can walk into. A room full of working laptops reaches many students at once, gives them a firmer foothold in the digital world, and lets them build solutions for their communities and economies.
We do not hand out hardware on a promise. A hackathon comes first. It proves that the demand is real, shows us your infrastructure and priorities, and builds the relationship with your leadership that a computer room needs to survive. Once that is in place, we set the cornerstones for device distribution together.
How we work
How devices are earned
- 01
Run a hackathon. This proves local demand and shows us how your university works day to day.
- 02
Assess needs together. We look at your infrastructure, your student numbers and where devices would have the greatest long-term impact.
- 03
Source and prepare hardware. We work with partners such as Computer Aid International to bring refurbished enterprise laptops.
- 04
Build the computer room. Devices are installed for institutions, not handed to individuals, so many students benefit.
- 05
Name a local owner. A person on the ground is responsible for the room, so it stays maintained and used.
- 06
Check in after 6 months. We return to see what is working, fix what is not, and plan the next step.
On the ground
Request Devices
Universities in the Global South can request refurbished enterprise laptops and computer rooms from Tembi Labs. Devices are earned through a hackathon, with a local owner and a 6-month check-in.
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What we provide vs what we ask
| Tembi provides | The university provides |
|---|---|
| Refurbished enterprise laptops via trusted partners | A secure, powered room for the devices |
| Setup of the computer room for institutional use | A named local owner responsible for the room |
| Guidance on maintenance and responsible use | Honest reporting at the 6-month check-in |
| An ongoing point of contact at Tembi | A commitment to keep the room open to students |
In short
This order is deliberate. Devices given without demand end up unused or resold. Devices earned through a proven hackathon, placed in a real room, with a local owner and a follow-up, end up serving students for years. That is the difference between a donation and lasting access.
In short
What a computer room unlocks
A computer lab is more than furniture and cables. For many students in the Global South it is the first place they can work on a real machine instead of a shared phone. That single change widens what a degree can mean. Students write and code on full keyboards, run AI-native tools that a phone cannot handle, and gain the digital skills that employers and founders actually look for.
Refurbished laptops for schools and universities also stretch a limited budget further than new hardware ever could. Enterprise machines that a company retired still have years of life in them, and channelled into a computer lab they become a lasting digital inclusion initiative rather than a one-time gift. This is how tech access in developing countries is built, room by room, on demand that a hackathon already proved.
Next step
Want devices for your students?
The path to a computer room starts with a hackathon. Book a short call and we will map it out with you.
Book a call
Host an AI hackathon or become a partner
Pick a slot that works for you. We will walk you through the next steps, from first call to your first event.
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FAQ
Questions, answered.
Devices are earned, not given away. A hackathon first proves local demand. After that, refurbished enterprise laptops are built into computer rooms for institutions, with local owners and a check-in after 6 months.
The hackathon proves demand, shows us your infrastructure and priorities, and builds trust with your leadership. That groundwork is what makes a computer room last rather than sit idle.
Refurbished enterprise laptops, sourced through trusted partners such as Computer Aid International. They are prepared and installed as part of a computer room for institutional use.
The university names a local owner who is responsible for the room. Tembi provides guidance on maintenance and stays available as a point of contact.
No. Devices are installed for institutions in a shared computer room, so many students benefit at once rather than a few individuals.
About six months after a room opens, we return to see what is working, fix what is not, and plan the next step together. It keeps us honest and keeps the room useful.
It starts with a hackathon, which takes roughly 6 to 8 weeks of lead time. The device and computer-room stage follows once demand is proven and needs are assessed together.
The programme is built on partnership rather than fees. We ask for a powered, secure room, a named local owner and honest reporting, not payment for the devices.
It depends on the size of the room and the number of devices, but the point of a shared computer lab is reach. A single room can rotate through many classes and student groups across a week, so far more people benefit than any set of individual handouts.
Our core partners are universities across the Global South, but we listen to any institution where a hackathon can prove demand and a computer room would be used and maintained. Write to us and we will talk it through. ---
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