Aurubis donates over 400 laptops and computers to Digital for Youth

Multimetal producer Aurubis, based in Olen and Beerse, is strengthening digital inclusion through its collaboration with Digital for Youth. In 2025, the company donated more than 400 laptops and computers to the non-profit organization, which in turn ensures that the devices reach children and young people in need of digital resources.

Through this collaboration, Aurubis aims to contribute to equal opportunities for our youth in an increasingly digital society. "At Aurubis, we are convinced that sustainability is also about social responsibility. This project is fully in line with our social engagement program ‘together we care’. By working with Digital for Youth, we are giving our hardware a new lease of life and providing maximum support to vulnerable young people to build their future," says Hans Van de Water, Managing Director of Aurubis Olen and Aurubis Beerse.

Research shows that around 40% of the Belgian population is at risk of digital exclusion. Access to a laptop is essential to participate fully in education and society. And that is precisely where Digital for Youth's mission lies. "Thanks to this IT donation from Aurubis Olen and Aurubis Beerse, we can repair depreciated IT equipment and give it a second life among young people between the ages of 6 and 25, through youth organizations. With one laptop, we reach an average of 6.5 young people. Thanks to every laptop we reuse, we reduce the digital divide and extend the life of IT equipment. In this way, we create a double impact: ecological through reuse and social by strengthening young people's digital skills. This combination is of fundamental importance," says Barbara De Weyer, Strategic Partnerships Coordinator at Digital for Youth.

Through project calls from the King Baudouin Foundation, youth organizations can receive free refurbished laptops for initiatives such as homework assistance and digital workshops thanks to the work of Digital for Youth. In the Kempen region, Klavier (Merksplas), MPI Oosterlo (Geel), Ligo Centrum voor Basiseducatie Kempen (Turnhout), vzw WEB (Turnhout), Iona vzw (Nijlen), and Mondiale Werken Regio Lier, among others, have already received support.

Two Aurubis sites in the Kempen region

Aurubis has two sites in the Kempen region: in Olen and in Beerse. The sites belong to the Aurubis Group, a leading global supplier of non-ferrous metals and one of the largest copper recycling companies in the world.

As a high-performance metal recycling plant in the Aurubis smelting network, Aurubis Olen processes blister, copper, and multi-metal recycling materials. The company has over 700 employees and uses electro-refining to produce copper cathodes, copper wire (Rod), oxygen-free copper wire (Foxrod), and busbars and profiles (Bars & Profiles). The Beerse site also operates an electrowinning department and processes complex recycling materials, ranging from the most complex residues to high-quality scrap types. From these, the company produces metals, metal products, and minerals. Aurubis Beerse employs over 500 people.

About Digital for Youth vzw

Digital for Youth vzw collects discarded laptops from companies and government agencies, refurbishes them, and distributes them to vulnerable young people through schools and youth organizations. In this way, the non-profit organization aims to reduce the digital divide in Belgium in a sustainable manner.

More info: https://digitalforyouth.be