Course 29

The students on course 29 graduated on Wednesday 10 December. We had 23 families all of whom worked very hard to complete the material and lessons taught throughout the course. Each family received a computer, an attendance certificate and a very firm handshake from Phil Major; Foundation and Current Trustee of E-Learning Porirua.

Course 28

43 Families participated in course 28 which ran from July - September. On Wednesday 24 September each family were rewarded for their efforts and graduated with a computer and attendance certificate presented by Arthur Graves Whitireia Community Polytechnics' new Chief Operating Officer. Also present at the graduation were: Microsoft - Community Affairs; Belinda Gorman, and E-Learning trust members; Graham Kelly, Pamela Meekings-Stewart, Murray Woodley, Ray Cowles and Winnie Laban. National Computers in Homes Coordinator Di Das also attended the evening.

Well done to all the families who participated in course 28. May your computer serve your family well in more ways then one.

Course 27

We had 37 families participate in course 27 run from February to April. Each family completed 10 weeks of training this term and graduated on Wednesday 16 April 2008. We celebrated the evening by handing out certificates. What a fun time it was. A huge congratulations to each family for their committment and achievements.

Each family took home a computer - the light at the end of the ten week tunnel!

Course 26

A massive 54 families participated in course 26 run in term 4 of 2007. Due to such high demand we decided to run classes at the Porirua RSA on Wednesday during the lunch hour and in the evening. A big congratulations to all the families that participated and worked so very hard each week. Well done!

Course 25

A very interesting course and great success in term 3 of 2007. 31 families worked hard to achieve the course requirements and graduated at the end of the term with attendance certificates and computers.

Hongoeka Marae

Situated in Hongoeka Bay, past Karehana Bay beyond Plimmerton. The locals meet every monday to learn the art of computing.

E-Learning Porirua

The Porirua City Community IT Educational Trust was established as a charitable trust 7 years ago by then local MP, Graham Kelly.

Its purpose as a community driven programme aims to provide computers in Homes, Schools and Community Learning Centres to families who are socially and economically disadvantaged, and provide them with the necessary skills and internet access to support their children’s learning and engage more fully in society.

The Computers in Homes programme provides families with a refurbished computer for the home, an internet connection, relevant basic training and technical support; and fully meets the following stated goals of the Trust:

* To empower communities with the necessary tools and skills for lifting education achievement, reducing unemployment and poverty, and increasing social cohesion.

* To provide children of these communities with access to online educational resources from home and local access points.

* To strengthen relationships between parents and schools in these disadvantaged communities, so that parents are more empowered to support their children’s learning.