Fantastic Microsoft Support for Stepping UP and the Whanganui Learning Centre

We are so grateful to Microsoft for their donation of software valued at US$40,880. This will enable our Stepping UP programme provider, the Whanganui Learning Centre to use up-to-date software for their digital learning classes this year - YAY

Microsoft’s software donation is over and above their already committed partnership support for the Stepping UP programme. In Wanganui, we have 250 places for 2010 available in our FREE 10 hour certificated course (4 digital steps/modules x 2.5 hours).

Microsoft’s generosity has enabled us to add considerable value to the outcomes we can achieve from the Wanganui Computers in Homes programme and community digital literacy in Wanganui. In particular, we would like to thank Belinda Gorman, Microsoft NZ’s Community Affairs Manager, who has made a huge effort for us to make this all possible. We have really appreciated her visits to Wanganui and look forward to continuing this relationship as we see the results of the community ICT investment ‘mature’.

I was a 2007 graduate of the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Foundation’s Community ICT Facilitators programme run with the Department of Internal Affairs at Whitireia Polytechnic, Porirua. Three years down the track it is so cool to see how strongly community ICT and digital learning have become priorities. There are plenty of challenges coming up but we are well placed to meet them through Microsoft’s commitment to helping us. We will do our best to make the most of it.