Huntley High School student recognized for coordinating the donation of lightly used laptops to schools in Mexico and India

HUNTLEY — Ariana Patel, a sophomore at Huntley High School, was recently recognized for partnering with Huntley Community School District 158 (D158) and a local non-profit organization named Giving Gadgets, to donate approximately 600 lightly-used laptops to schools and students in need across the world.

According to the district’s Director of Communications and Public Relations Alex LeMoine, Patel collaborated with D158 Superintendent Scott Rowe back in June after she inquired about laptops that the school district may be able to donate.

With assistance from the district’s technology department, nearly 1,500 laptops were collected. About 600 of those devices were able to be donated to schools in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and Ahmedabad, India.

The donated Chromebooks had reached the end of their life cycle for use within the district and were earmarked for recycling. The data was wiped off of all of the devices, which made them ready for donation by technology staff.

Giving Gadgets estimates that D158’s generous donation will assist in providing over 15,000 students with the opportunity to further their education with technology over the next five years.

For many of these students, it will be the first time that they will be exposed to this kind of technology in school.

“The thought of being able to help those in need really stuck out to me. I have the ability to help students around the world increase their education by helping donate these computers,” stated Patel.

The young student explained that her inspiration behind this philanthropic effort came from listening to her grandfather talk about the challenges of starting a charitable school in his hometown in India due to the lack of computer access for students.

Following that encounter, Patel sought help from her cousin, Jaiden Sutaria, a senior at St. Charles East High School, who also happens to be a founding member of Giving Gadgets.

The organization’s mission is to ensure that every child has access to usable technology at school. By donating devices, Giving Gadgets hopes to allow students to gain the same knowledge that students with access to technology have while promoting a more equitable education system.

“Having those first conversations with my grandfather while he was doing his charitable work of opening a school in his town in India opened my eyes to the disparities [in education] not only around the world but also in our own communities, as well,” said Patel.

In addition to benefiting students in other parts of the world, Giving Gadgets aims to help the planet by recycling e-waste.

As of recent, the organization was able to secure a grant of $10,000 to help spread the word about Giving Gadgets and their goals for the future. They hope to partner with a large technology company that will be able to donate a percentage of devices heading to recycling centers.

“I want to continue to help bridge the gap and increase equality of technology and other resources by offering computers to all students,” added Patel. “Every student in the United States and around the world should be able to have access to educational technology.”

After graduation, Patel plans to grow her passion for helping people by pursuing a career in medicine.

While a student at Huntley High School, Patel says that she will continue the work she does for Giving Gadgets and help them partner with more schools and organizations that are willing to donate their computers to schools lacking technological resources.

Patel is also an avid member of the Student Council, Leo’s Club, and D158’s Medical Academy, among other extracurriculars.

“There is still a lot of work to be done, and I am excited to be a part of this organization to help make a difference,” she explained.

Individuals interested in learning more about Giving Gadgets, or becoming a sponsor, may visit their website at GivingGadgets.org.