At 80 years old, Ray Cooper is living proof that age is no barrier to making a positive impact on the lives of others. The Melbourne great-grandfather and retired electrical engineer has always had a knack for technology, and now he’s using his skills to change the lives of disadvantaged school students.
For the past seven years, Cooper has been collecting Christmas presents for the Les Twentyman Foundation, but after a visit from the late great social justice advocate Les Twentyman OAM himself, Ray decided he could do even more. He began using his expertise to repair and refurbish laptops for students in need—giving them the tools they need to succeed in school.
“I know in Melbourne, there’s thousands of kids that do it tough,” Ray told A Current Affair. “When I grew up, I was very poor, didn’t get much choice, so I can relate to them. You have to be there to understand it.”
Instead of focusing on accumulating gifts for himself this Christmas, Ray has been hard at work fixing laptops that might otherwise be discarded or sold online. “It’s an easy job, it’s not a hard job. You just need help to get the laptops,” he said. “I pull them apart, change the batteries, wipe them, and overcome the security.”
In just a few short months, Ray has already repaired laptops for 40 students and is determined to provide dozens more before the year ends. “My intention is to ensure all the kids get a laptop to carry out their schoolwork and get a good education,” he explained.
A Lifeline for Students in Need
Chris Lacey, General Manager of the Les Twentyman Foundation, shared the significant impact these laptops have on students’ lives. “Last year, we supplied 300 laptops to students, but we still have a waitlist of over 50 students hoping for a device,” Lacey said. “We’ve heard stories of students being suspended because they don’t have a laptop, and some schools report having six or seven students sharing a single device.”
Laptops, along with other essential school supplies such as textbooks, stationery, and calculators, are crucial for students to stay engaged in their studies. “These laptops mean that students not only stay in school, but for many, they start to excel in their studies. It opens up more opportunities,” Lacey added.
The demand is overwhelming. “There’s one school that needs 600 laptops alone,” Lacey said. “We encourage anyone with the time, skills, or resources to get involved and support young people. Volunteers like Ray are the lifeblood of our work, and we need more people like him to help meet this growing need.”
A Call to Action for Corporations
Ray Cooper is urging big businesses to reconsider how they dispose of their old technology. “To all corporations, don’t throw out your laptops. Send them to the Les Twentyman Foundation, where they can be reborn and give kids a second chance at life,” he said.
The work Ray and the Les Twentyman Foundation are doing has already made a life-changing difference for so many students, but the need continues to grow. If you’d like to help, whether through donating laptops or volunteering your skills, please contact us on [email protected]
Together, we can ensure every young person has the tools they need to succeed.