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#