Course 40

Course 40 was delivered February 2011 - April 2011. 52 Graduates received computers and certificates on Wednesday 13 April.

E-Learning Chair Graham Kelly and Porirua Mayor, Nick Leggett handed out certificates to some very excited graduates. Photos on this occasion were taken by Graham Craig from the Rotary club of Plimmerton. These can be viewed by clicking right HERE!

E-Learning Porirua hits 1000 homes

E-Learning Porirua celebrated it's 1000th family that has received training and a computer as part of the Computers in Homes programme last week. Tracey MacDonald of Waitangirua and her children Braydon, 8, Keelan 5, and Kaylah 4, were gifted with a certificate and an Ipad as an acknowledgement of being the 1000th family. Ms MacDonald is humbled with the award. " I feel very honoured and privileged to be the 1000th person. "To me it's opened up a lot of doors. It's great having the internet - it's just so much easier. It's at my fingertips if the kids need help with their homework. It makes life easier" she says.

The Computers in Homes programme was designed by the Porirua City Community IT Educational Trust to provide computer skills to Porirua locals to assist them in finding jobs. Ms MacDonald says she would like to further her participation in computing to keep it in her mind - at the moment she is finding time between her children's school and kindergarten hours. Porirua City Community IT Educational Trust Chairperson Graham Kelly told the guests last Wednesday this was a "milestone" for the trust. "With a lot of fundraising by our Board, our Trust, over these past ten years, has trained and given 1000 homes computers to families in Porirua City, affecting approximately 1500 adults and 4000 children. "This is a milestone for us and for our community, but most importantly for the families who can now see a better future for themselves."

Written by Dani McDonald - CityLife Porirua News

Course 39

60 Families graduated from Course 39 on 15 December 2010. Certificates were presented by Clare Curren; Labour Party spokesperson for Communications and Information Technology and Graham Kelly; Chair e-Learning Porirua Trust.

Student Testimonial - Terrisa Fa'avae

“If I hadn’t done this course, I wouldn’t be where I am now”

Speaking to Terrisa, it’s clear that she’s a shrewd woman. She recognised that getting a PC and the skills to use it were vital in equipping her and her sons for the Digital Economy – but she’s gone further than that…

Terrisa is now the treasurer of her local Community group; and is also planning to return to full time education when her sons are a bit older. These ambitions are possible because of the Computers in Homes course that was offered at the Porirua RSA.

After successfully completing the Computers in Homes programme and going on to complete further training through the Stepping UP programme, Terrisa can confidently use the Internet, Microsoft Office programs, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint and in her own words, she uses the “computer for everything -it’s all at my fingertips!”

Her sons are also making good use of the PC – but only for school work, as mum is strict with their computer time. Her trust computer also came with an internet security program , which protects the family from any Internet nasties that may be lurking, giving mum peace of mind.

The environment at the Porirua RSA was also a huge incentive for Terrisa. Terrisa says the timing of the classes, the location and also her tutor’s warm and professional approach made a huge difference to her. She is now confident that she can use the computer and the internet for whatever SHE wants.

“If I hadn’t come on this course I wouldn’t be where I am now. I’m prepared to return to work, empowered and more confident. I now have a choice in life in terms of jobs. I went up to 7^th form and didn’t have the confidence to continue. I now tell my kids – stick with school so that you can choose your job and your job doesn’t choose you.”