Connecting Newcomers

The 5ive Pillars Organization has partnered with Corporate eWaste Solutions (CEWS) to provide free, refurbished laptops to refugees, asylees, parolees and other migrants in the San Francisco Bay Area .

Qualifying newcomers may receive one laptop per household. In order to qualify, please review the eligibility criteria below. To apply, click "Apply Now" at the bottom to begin the process.

Individuals interested in donating a laptop to newcomers can do so by clicking on the "Donate" button below.

Application

Donation Form

Eligibility

All eligible and approved applications qualify for one (1) refurbished laptop per household. In order to receive a laptop, applicants must meet certain criteria, including:

Have any of the following statuses: Asylum-seeker, asylee, parolee, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)/Refugee, Permanent Resident or undocumented.
Currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area or interior Northern California region in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo.

Laptops

Laptops provided are all refurbished. Refurbished items generally refer to pre-owned products that have been evaluated, repaired and upgraded. These devices have been repurposed by having their previous data wiped and reset to factory settings for its new owners.

Laptops are only available to qualifying households.
Organizations are not eligible for laptops at this time.

Donations

Individuals interested in donating their laptops to CEWS for repurposing may do so by completing an online donation form.

Donors will receive further instructions by a 5ive Pillars Organization team member.

Resources

Free Software Development Course

Arabic and Farsi speakers are encouraged to sign up for a FREE software development course through The Zomia Coding Project.

Affordable Connectivity Program

Applicants for a laptop are also encouraged to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal program that reduces the cost of internet services to eligible households.

For more information about the ACP, visit the ACP page here.