Community benefits as Porirua families graduate from Computers in Homes

Graduation marks local milestone with over 800 families now supported since 2001.

Twenty-four Porirua families graduated late last year from the national Computers in Homes programme in a graduation ceremony held at the Porirua RSA.

Through e-Learning Porirua (The Porirua City Community IT Educational Trust) which runs the Computers in Homes programme in Porirua, these families have been provided with computers and internet access along with the training, skills and support to use these technologies.

The programme aims to bring computer and internet technologies within reach of all NZ families with school-aged children and allows parents and grandparents to connect and be more involved with their children’s learning.

Computers in Homes and e-Learning Porirua celebrated the achievements of families in their community who now have the skills and equipment to go on-line and participate in the digital world.

This graduation also marked a local milestone for e-Learning Porirua which has now supported over 800 families since 2001. Reducing unemployment and improving educational attainment levels is a prime goal of e-Learning Porirua.

“These 24 graduating families consist of approximately 35 adults and 75 children who will benefit from this project which includes six months internet access. With job cuts very likely in the immediate future because of the global financial crisis, these new skills will materially assist these families in a tighter employment environment to obtain and hold jobs,” says Graham Kelly, chairman of the Porirua e-Learning Trust.