Akili Community Evolution

Akili Community Evolution is a South Africa–based nonprofit organization, incorporated in 2020 and headquartered in Durban. The group is committed to expanding access to computing and digital creation tools while tackling pressing environmental issues such as electronic and plastic waste. Through its work, Akili bridges digital literacy and sustainability, empowering individuals to become agents of technological and ecological change.

Central to its mission is Akili range—a collection of innovative, community-oriented technology and recycling solutions. The ACE Computers program takes broken laptops and repurposes their components with single-board computers to create entry-level desktops. This not only extends the life of electronic hardware but also helps close the digital divide. In parallel, the organization transforms discarded PET bottles into recycled PET filament (rPET) suitable for 3D printing, effectively contributing to plastic upcycling and circular economy practices.

Akili also engages the public through educational programs and social outreach. Through accessible teaching materials, workshops, and online sessions, they promote technical literacy, creative expression, and environmental responsibility. Their community initiatives often include hands-on learning opportunities that blend digital making with local environmental action.

This blend of digital empowerment and waste repurposing earned Akili recognition as a runner-up in a plastics innovation and circularity competition, highlighting their role in developing affordable, sustainable computing through environmental stewardship.

Keywords: Akili Community Evolution, South Africa NGO, digital inclusion, e-waste repurposing, plastic upcycling, ACE Computers, rPET filament, environmental education, community technology, sustainable computing, digital literacy, circular economy, nonprofit innovation