Empowering Young Minds Through RAD Laptop Refurbishment with Christchurch Boys’ High School
At RAD, we're passionate about creating opportunities through technology.
Recently, we partnered with the dedicated RAD club students at Christchurch Boys’ High School (CBHS) to refurbish a set of laptops for a very special cause—supporting young learners at Te Huarahi - Linwood Avenue School’s Code Club.
It all started at the end of Term Two when we approached CBHS’s Laptop Refurbishment group with a challenge: could they breathe new life into a set of older MacBooks? These devices had been discovered in a cupboard at Te Huarahi, untouched for years. With Code Club attendance growing, Te Huarahi desperately needed more laptops to give their young students, many of whom are Year 3–5, the chance to develop their digital skills. The mission was clear: repurpose these devices for the students, giving them access to technology they wouldn’t otherwise have.
“Seeing how happy it made the students to receive something they could call their own made my day. It’ll forever be one of my fondest memories.”
The CBHS students got to work right away, assessing the condition of the laptops. While most were functional, they faced two major hurdles: the devices had outdated hard drives and unreliable batteries. Working together with RAD, CBHS was able to source enough SSDs and batteries to transform the slow, aging machines into something reliable and ready for action. By installing a custom macOS image tailored to Te Huarahi’s needs, the CBHS team brought 20 of these MacBooks back to life.
At the end of Term Three, the CBHS students didn’t just send the laptops—they decided to deliver them in person. On October 16th, Thomas, Max, and Janzen, alongside their teacher Mr. Wright, made the journey to Te Huarahi. They joined in the Code Club session, seeing firsthand the excitement and gratitude of the students and teachers as they received the refurbished laptops. For the CBHS team, it was a powerful experience that put their hard work into perspective.
“My favourite part was seeing the students’ reactions and how grateful they were. I got a better understanding of how important our work is for those who benefit from it and the positive impact it had on those receiving laptops from us.”
The visit also left the CBHS team with lasting lessons about the importance of technology access. The students reflected on how rewarding it was to give devices to those who genuinely needed them. They recognised that small acts of kindness, like refurbishing and donating laptops, can make a profound difference in someone else’s life.
Throughout the year, the CBHS Laptop Refurbishment group has successfully restored over 300 laptops for communities in need. But this experience at Te Huarahi was unique—it was their first time witnessing the direct impact of their work. They heard from teachers how critical these devices are for the students, many of whom don’t have internet or devices at home. For these young learners, Code Club is a rare and valuable chance to explore technology and build skills for the future.
We at RAD are immensely grateful to CBHS for their incredible work and dedication. We’re thrilled to know that these refurbished laptops will fuel curiosity and learning in the Code Club for years to come.
At RAD, we believe that access to technology is a right, not a privilege. Together, with schools and communities across New Zealand, we’re on a mission to bridge the digital divide—one refurbished device at a time.
“Seeing the kids’ projects in Microsoft MakeCode Arcade was inspiring. It is much more rewarding to give away refurbished devices like laptops than selling them to make a profit to those who are deserving and have a desire to carry on their learnt skills at a young age.”
