Like most charitable organizations, AFRETECH began with a desire to help others -- a "we can do this" decision. In 1992, Bonnie and Don Sutherland, two Canadian teachers, visited a local school in Zimbabwe, Africa, and were immediately struck by the lack of basic resources. Teachers taught from a single outdated textbook while students listened. Yet these kids were desperate for an education -- and the one hope of a better future. Returning home to Canada, Bonnie and Don enlisted the help of their family, friends, and schools district to send a first shipment of resources to that school. In 1994 Bonnie joined the Executive MBA program at Simon Fraser Uinversity. That is where she met Geoff Ridden, CEO of G7 Systems. A strong friendship grew, culminating in a trip to install a computer lab in rural Zimbabwe in 1999. After that effort, the team realized that this charity could bring significant benefit, particularly if it continued to run on the principal that members of the charity would finance themselves to assist on projects, thus ensuring that all donations would go directly to recipient projects, instead of being spent on administration, salaries, and transportation for project workers. Therefore this group of friends decided to formalize the charity and become and official Aid Society, with founding directors Bonnie Sutherland, Don Sutherland, Geoff Ridden, and Jacquie Boyd.

That was only the start. AFRETECH constructed and equipped a brand new computer facility in Imbale, near Kakamega, Western Province, Kenya. The shipments have grown larger and larger to reflect the educational expectations of a changing world. In addition to educational resources, we have expanded to establish clinics to provide medical assistance to students and the surrounding community. Our first clinic was established next to Imbale school, near Kakamega, Western Province, Kenya.

AFRETECH is an all volunteer organization and a registered Canadian charity and a regististered 501(c)3 in the United States. Our goal is to give children the chance of a real education and thereby a better life.