We generally run Computers in Homes for 15 refugee families a year in
Nelson and this time almost a hundred people gathered in Victory Community Hall
to celebrate their 2014 graduation on 16 September.
Special guests included Erika Ross, Regional Director Ministry of
Education, Hassan Ibrahim, Southern Regional Refugee Education Coordinator MoE,
Nelson City Councillor Matt Lawrey and Marion Street MP.
All expressed their congratulations to the graduate parents for the
commitment and tenacity shown to complete training to help their children with
their school work.
We were warmly hosted by Principal Helen Taylor-Young and school
coordinator Dianne Goodwin who has been working with refugee children and their
families for over a decade. Previous principal Mark Brown has now moved to
Newtown School in Wellington and is planning CIH for families there in 2015.
Erika Ross was called upon to present certificates and will feature some of our
photos in the next Ministry of Education bulletin.
One unique feature of Refugee graduations at Victory School is the
community involvement and how previous graduate families support the newly
arrived ones. Their wonderful children and older students entertain us with
dance and the parents sing for the guests. The costumes and music are an
amazing experience every time.
Another feature is how Computers in Homes provides opportunity for
personal growth and development of youth. Previous CIH graduate families have
provided fantastic interpreters, trainers and technicians who come back to work
on the programme and further afield. Dhan and David rose to the occasion as
trainers for this intake, and Dhan will go on as Family Liaison and Technical
support. Dhan is currently studying Computer Engineering, while David enters
tertiary education as an Engineering student at Canterbury University in 2015.
We wish them well in their journey.
Many thanks to all the amazing people who contribute and make this event
happen!
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