One Computer Can Change a Child's After-School Life

Some children have a computer at home that they can use freely. Others do not.

That difference is not simply about whether a child owns a device. It changes what they can experience after school: looking things up, writing, trying programming, editing videos, and experimenting with AI.

Digital Kodomo BASE distributes refurbished computers for free because we do not want a child's family circumstances to close off that entry point.

In fact, PC ownership in Japanese households earning under ¥2 million per year stands at just 38.5%. For households earning ¥10-15 million, the figure is 92.7%. That gap shows up directly in the options children have after school.

What Changes When a Child Has No Computer at Home?

That ownership gap quietly shapes what children can do after school.

School-issued GIGA School tablets are restricted devices, not well suited for programming, video editing, or AI experimentation. Having a computer at home that a child can freely explore is a completely different experience from accessing a locked-down tablet at school. The skills that build up over time depend on the kind of access a child has.

Because the computers are sourced from corporate equipment that would otherwise be discarded, the cost per unit is far lower than buying new. The same budget reaches significantly more children. Something that would have gone to waste instead goes to a child who needed it — that is the core of what makes this work.

Computers That Would Have Been Thrown Away, Delivered to Children

Manufacturing a new computer produces approximately 200 kg of CO2 per unit. Refurbishing and reusing existing hardware avoids that emission entirely. Industry estimates suggest that PC reuse programmes in Japan collectively prevent around 30,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

A computer headed for the bin is cleaned up, checked, and handed to a child who uses it every day. Less waste, more opportunity — it really is that simple.

One PC Opens Up Options for a Child

The World Economic Forum projects that 44% of core workforce skills will change within five years, with programming and AI fluency among the most valued. Yet whether a child even has access to a computer still comes down to household income — a gap the ownership data above makes concrete.

At Digital Kodomo BASE, we refurbish computers donated by companies and individuals and give them to children who don't have one at home. One computer changes what a child's afternoons look like.

But "free for the child" does not mean costless. Sourcing, data wiping, testing, refurbishing, and delivering each computer costs approximately ¥30,000 per unit. The child pays nothing — but that cost is covered entirely by the support of our donors and contributors.

¥30,000 = one child's entry point to the digital world
When a computer arrives at a child's home, they can start programming after school, edit videos, and experiment with AI — things that were simply not available to them before. A donation of ¥10,000 covers one third of that cost. Monthly giving allows us to reach more children, consistently, every month.

Donations are accepted on this page. We also welcome donations of used computers from companies and individuals. If this resonates with you, please consider being part of making it continue.