CiH for children of refugee background: Wellington Refugee 2014-2015 Graduation

On 29 November 2014, 14 very exuberant Colombian and Burmese families graduated from the e-Learning Porirua CTC at the RSA. They spoke of their happiness to be in New Zealand and their joy of learning. The children were also fully engaged in the technology at the centre and keen to get their computers home. Thanks to tutor Peter, assistant Ibrahim, interpreter Jackie and child minder Beatiz, plus Tim and Graham and the whole team at e-Learning Porirua local provider for another successful intake. Certificates were presented by Abdi Bihi from Ministry of Education who fund this valuable work which provides opportunity for the whole family. Beatiz is from a previous intake and has worked very hard to improve her English, so now she is employed back into the programme to run the childcare for new families in training. Her whole family is making great strides in education and employment, with husband Angel now working using his skills as a motorcycle mechanic. We wish all the graduates and their families the best for the future. Nau mai haere mai welcome to Computers in Homes.

Beatriz graduated earlier in 2014 and did the child minding for the latest intake of refugee CIH families.

Beatriz has a new life in NZ now. Read her story:

http://englishlanguage.org.nz/kiwi-xmas-Colombians

Shona Te Huki, Computers in Homes Manager

The 20/20 Trust provides refurbished computers and internet access to about 100 refugee background families nationally per year, under a Ministry of Education contract. The Ministry also contracts separately a regional training provider to deliver the training component, employ family liaison and provide technical support to the families during the 12 month contract.

The initiative runs in refugee background communities in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Nelson.

Goals

1. to give refugee families the necessary computing tools and skills to become active learners
2. to provide refugee children and their families with access to online educational resources from home.

Outcomes

1. Greater self-confidence in using IT resources
2. Improved child/parent and home/school relationships
3. Families accessing educational resources relevant to their language and cultural backgrounds.
4. Improved literacy and numeracy for refugee children and their families
5. Improved communication skills

These projects are managed from CiH National Office.

Contact

Shona Te Huki

021 840 053

shona.tehuki@2020.org.nz.

Computers in Homes

Bringing Technology to New Zealand families since 2000

Computers in Homes works with low decile schools, helping students and their families use internet, email and computers at home, school and work.

Between July 2015 and June 2016, we helped 1,750 families from 421 schools and kura. We've helped 16,890 families since we started.

Visit www.computersinhomes.nz

The 20/20 Trust

New Zealanders fully participating in our digital world

Computers in Homes is an initiative of the 20/20 Trust.

The 20/20 Trust works with communities, leading programmes contributing to New Zealanders’ digital literacy, skills and inclusion.

Our other programmes include KiwiSkills, Stepping UP, ICDL and the Digital Inclusion Map.

Visit www.2020.org.nz