Monday 28 September 2015

Our Computers in Homes Whanau of 2014-15 year

I had the privilege today of starting some of our graduates from November 2014 and May 2015 on the Kiwiskills Jobseeker programme.  These families started with Computers in Homes, have done Stepping Up and now are doing a qualification with Kiwiskills.  One of the families is currently volunteering on a current Computers in Homes course with the goal of training for us in 2016.

Technology has the ability to do that, to grab our interest, to engage us and to make us want to motivate ourselves and learn more.

After 12 months we hear many stories of success and here are a few of their stories in their words:
  • My boy will look up how to draw a face (for example). He's into comic books and will look up who wrote them and how they got famous. My partner has been doing courses and now works as a teacher aide. My son's art has improved, he's doing really well with his art on the computer. He reads a lot of things, so his reading has improved too. He searches for things, and that has helped his spelling. His mouse control is great. I've noticed the kids have bonded better when on the computer, they are interested in what each other is looking at. Also they cooperate really well when they are interested in something they are looking at. They help each other. Having a computer at home now means I do not have to pack up my whole family and leave the house to use one. When we forget something the computer tells us. If I need to find things out for myself I can find things out. The computer has helped us a lot. My partner does her study on it." - RM graduated Nov 2013

  • "It impresses me the most seeing my children having the same advantages and opportunities as other children. It puts them in a quality space. They have the technology. They can do what anybody else in the world can do and learn. To see them use that is great. They won't be left out. They can make choices and they will be informed. Having the computer here has kept us as a family, it's kept us together - we can do our searching with our fingers. We are saving energy and we are loving, growing, getting angry together, looking at things together. I would not have been able to do my coursework without this computer: a lot of interaction is required with other students. Improvements: I do not know how you can make CIH better. It's a gift! - TT graduated Aug 2014


  • There's a significant amount more information that can be accessed easily through computer rather than phone. I think they are more aware of things happening to others (some of which are not so happy - but that's life). Having the computer here has enriched the family. It gives me more free time. When they are in bed then it's MY time. We have massive discussions about things and I notice they observe others' comments in a different way. My relationship with my kids is stronger now. I have to trust them that they are not looking at nasty content and that they are using this tool wisely. They sort out their times on the computer between them. We know we are so lucky - we remember what it was like not to have one" MB gradauted Aug 2014