Django, a Congolese refugee in western Uganda, relies on a solar‑powered laptop to pursue a remote computer‑science degree. When his motherboard failed after a 12 V battery mishap, a university student in Australia offered a spare MacBook. The donor assumed a simple post office shipment would suffice, but lithium‑battery regulations quickly complicated matters. The effort highlighted how fragile supply chains affect education in displacement contexts.

A quick query to ChatGPT suggested using Australia Post, which accepted the package for $111.60 AUD but later returned it, citing a ban on international air transport of devices with installed lithium cells. Switching to freight broker Pack & Send raised the cost to $213 AUD and introduced customs fees in Uganda, prompting the donor to forward a $50‑$100 buffer via Airtel Money.

After traversing nine countries, the laptop arrived in the Netherlands before Ugandan agents instructed Django to pay a UGX 95,000 agency fee and obtain a Tax Identification Number—a process that forced a trek to a distant URA office and failed attempts due to network outages. Ultimately, the device cleared customs, giving Django hardware to continue his studies. He can now upload assignments without fearing power loss.