Whanganui is keen to go all the Digital Way ASAP

We are well on the way to working with over 125 new CIH families, whanau and fanau here in 2011.

So far, we have 30 families, whanau and fanau at 3 CiH classes running at the Whanganui Learning Centre, Born and Raised Pasifika Centre and for Aberfeldy School. In Term 2, from early May, we are stepping up with new classes being run at Castlecliff, Keith Street and Tawhero Schools plus others at the Whanganui Learning Centre and Born and Raised Pasifika Centre. Whew, demand for CiH here is higher than ever. As well as the above, we have at least 8 other schools and CTCs interested.

Computers for Positive Ageing at the Eugene Crotty Complex

It was neat to see John Maslin’s story about our work with older people in the Wanganui District Council’s Eugene Crotty Complex, in Gonville, published by the Wanganui Chronicle last week. Read it at this link

Last year, we installed 5 computers, connected to the internet, with Skype capability, for the residents to use in their community room. We also had workshops for residents on using them there for one morning a week from August to December.

This has been a very popular resource with the residents and it has given them new opportunities to keep in touch with families and friends, especially outside the district. Some have become Facebook ‘junkies’, others are using Trade Me, or sharing recopies, or playing Sky Virtual Super Rugby, plus using many other programmes and sites.


SURF'S UP: Bill Signal, a resident at the Eugene Crotty pensioner flats in Gonville, is a regular user of the recycled computers installed at the village's community hall. Photo / Stuart Munro. From the story: Programme Connects Retirees, by John Maslin, published in Wanganui Chronicle, Friday, March 18, 2011

Microsoft software donation for Stepping UP training

We are so pleased to receive a new donation of software this year from Microsoft Corporation to enable the Whanganui Learning Centre to deliver training on the most up-to-date available versions of the Microsoft Office 2010 Software Suite.

Our Stepping UP classes are proving as popular as ever this year. We are on track for 150 learners to complete their training and receive a Stepping UP Certificate by mid-year.
The Stepping UP programme is making a huge difference helping people to become more digitally literate and obtain skills to help them find work. Also, many are of our learners are continuing to study and obtain more qualifications and training.

We have been able to help over 600 learners to complete their Stepping UP training in Wanganui since 2009. Not bad eh? None of this would have been possible without the support of Microsoft and especially for Belinda Gorman’s enthusiasm for our work. We can all be proud Stepping UP is making a huge difference here and it will make a meaningful contribution to the overall economic outputs of the district. .

2011 is going to be another goodie

Happy New Year Everyone!! In 2011, may Information and Communications Technology (ICT) take us speedily along our digital paths towards creating happy, prosperous and sustainable lives for ourselves :-)

We are starting with plenty of enthusiasm to help as many Computers in Homes families/whanau and Stepping UP participants in Whanganui as possible this year. We are geared up to have 125+ families and whanau take part in CIH, plus another 300 Stepping UP learners.

We are very proud of our achievements here in 2010. For our CIH Phase 2 goal to have 150 families and whanau graduate by June 2011, we have got 144. For our Stepping UP programme, our goal was to have 300 learners complete the course, and we have achieved 94% of this, enough to easily better the minimum level of 80% to receive funding.

It is so pleasing to see our programmes are making such a positive difference for the participant families, whanau and learners. Our last two graduations in December 2010 were fantastic celebrations, a true credit to our local Community Technology Centre partners, the Whanganui Learning Centre and the Born and Raised Pasifika Centre.

Here is our Whanganui Learning Centre December CIH class, who were presented with their certificates by our Mayor, Annette Main, and Whanganui MP, Chester Borrows. Included in the photo, at left, are class tutor Ian Jamieson and WCIH Chair, Cr. Sue Westwood. On the right side is Neil Beissel from WINZ. During the celebration we heard the learners’ stories about how having a computer and new skills will help them make more successful lives.

Our programme is so worthwhile and it is really heartening to hear about their experiences.

Click here to view our photos from the Whanganui Learning Centre Graduation Celebration.

Our Graduation Celebration at the Born and Raised Pasifika Centre on 17 December was a very special one, surely the most colourful CiH graduation ever.

Here is the class with Di Das, National CiH Manager on the left and moi at the right. It is such a privilege to work with the Born and Raised Pasifika Centre. They are so enthusiastic to be able to use computers and the internet for the benefit of their Pasifika Fanau. Centre Manager, Hellen Puhi Puhi is a great CiH Champion. We were treated to an amazing Pasifika experience and with fantastic hospitality.

Click here to view more photos from the Born and Raised Pasifika Centre Celebration

Whanganui is So Special

However you spell us we are a special community. There were a couple of milestones last week which made me realise just how lucky I am to live and work here.

Monday was the opening blessing for the Jerusalem mini library. It turned out to be much more than just a library opening as it was a chance for local whanau to welcome our new Mayor, Annette Main and share her celebration of taking up her role. She is no stranger to Jerusalem of course as she has lived just down the road for over 20 years, but this was her first visit as our leading citizen and everyone took the chance to show how popular her appointment is with them.

It was neat to catch up with some of our CiH whanau from Whanganui Awa School too. There is a strong connection with the school and Jerusalem already so having a library there will ensure it stays strong.

I hope the Whanganui River communities will be one of the first to benefit from the NZ Government’s Rural Broadband Initiative when it rolls out. They are surely one of our neediest and we all have so much to gain from connecting them properly.

Friday was the signing ceremony for Wanganui’s designation status as a International Safe Community. Once again, it was heartening to see our community leaders gathered to acknowledge all the hard work that has gone into the designation over the past 6 years. It is clear there is a huge commitment right across the board here to make us a great place.

Perhaps the most exiting aspect of these events is that they are the fruits of the extensive collaboration and networking which goes on here.

The Wanganui District Council is a big catalyst for this and is to be applauded for their openness, accessibly and commitment to making us a better place to live in.

Digital therapy is great for keeping on top of mid-winter blues at the Eugene Crotty Pensioner Flats

Although our primary focus for CIH is on families with children at school, older people are special too. Even if they are not key caregivers, older people can live a more meaningful role in the world and contribute plenty if they can use a computer, access the internet and can use these resources.

So it is great to able squeeze in an extra WCIH ICT pilot at the Wanganui District Council’s Eugene Crotty pensioner flats complex, with around 40 residents. We have set up 5 computers there , all connected to the internet and are really excited about letting the “crumblies’ loose on the digital highway.

It was very special today to launch the pilot with the residents. Here’s to it making a difference for as many there as possible. We are not just leaving them to it either. Ian will be taking weekly classes for them over next couple of months or so. So watch out you young punks the Eugene Crotty crew are on your tail J

Click here to see more photos

Jumping on the CIH Juggernaught in June

We have had a massive month for June with 45 families/whanau graduating and receiving their computers to use at home. What a wonderful thing to have for the school holidays!!
Our June classes were at Castlecliff, Tawhero and Wanganui East Schools plus Putiki Marae. Congratulations to our tutors: Mary Dean, Debz Tongotea, Ian Jamieson & Judd Bailey. You are our stars!! It is so heartening to read through the class evaluations by the learners and see all the highly positive comments.
Each graduation celebration was special. Chester Borrows, our Whanganui Electorate Member of Parliament presented certificates for our Wanganui East School class graduation at UCOL.

Click here to see more photos of our celebrations this month.
The June families/whanau bring our total participants for 2009/10 to 84 so far. This is well ahead of our plan to have 150 by this time next year. It shows there is plenty of demand and need for us and we could easily double our outputs if funding was available.
July will be no less exciting with the Grand Launch of the Wanganui Computer Clubhouse next week, plus new CIH classes at Tawhero School, Putiki Marae and the Whanganui Learning Centre.
The Stepping UP Programme is proving popular too. We have had over 100 learners complete their 4 modules for 2010 at the Whanganui Learning Centre so far. We are thrilled to be able to offer additional classes at Tawhero School in Term 3. These will be for the CIH parents who graduated in June and who are keen to continue improving their digital skills. Tawhero School is certainly making a huge effort to connect with their community and we are very grateful to have this opportunity.

Tawhero School is a great venue for a cool class

It was neat to get along to Debz Tongotea’s class at Tawhero School on Wednesday night. They are halfway through their training now. Debz is doing a very good job of taking the class and is enjoying see the transformation of her pupils into confident PC users.

It was fun to talk to them about getting set up their PC’s at home and connecting to the internet from there. Ian Jamieson came along too, and between us we explained how we would do our best to make it easy when they get their computers and internet connections at home.

NZ Government funding for Computers in Homes announcement makes Coordinators happy

Our latest National CIH Coordinators meeting in Wellington on 27/28 May was a very exciting affair. The announcement on 27 May by Hon. Tariana Turia, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector that NZ$8.3M would be invested by the NZ Government into programmes to increase digital literacy, including Computers in Homes and Computer Clubhouse, is very good news indeed. It is really heartening to read Tariana’s praise for our programmes and receive her support. http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/launch+computer+clubhouse+connected+and+digital+literacy+and+connection+fund

Naturally, Tariana’s announcement made our strategic planning discussions very important and we have already mapped out where the investment could be spent best. Whilst this is a great boost for CIH, the numbers likely to be enabled will only scratch the surface for helping our needy families get on the right side digital divide. There are still 100,000 low decile households who don’t have PC’s or an internet connection at home; we can help around 3,000 (3%). Nevertheless, it is a fantastic milestone that the NZ Government has now recognised CIH as important enough to scale up and have its own budget line!!

Here we are celebrating at the Porirua Business Network with Deputy PM, Hon. Bill English, and MP Hekia Parata.

It is easy to be happy when we can contribute to, and share the achievements of our most needy families in making the most of our digital opportunities. I am so proud to be able to work with the CIH team for my community in Wanganui.

Click here to see other photos from the NCIHCG Hui.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wanganuicih/NCIHCGWellington2728May2010#