Manchester Unity Friendly Society

On Wednesday 10 June 2009 the Manchester Unity Friendly Society presented Computers in Homes with a very highly appreciated donation. Computers in Homes is extremely grateful and cannot say thank you enough!

The Manchester Unity Friendly Society confirm they are pleased to support the E-Learning initiative because they were impressed with the literature provided. The Manchester Unity Friendly Society says "It is a well run project providing lots of follow up; helping to make a difference in the lives of those lucky enough to be taking part"

The money the Manchester Unity Friendly Society receive come from donations from members and raffles. The society is very cautious who they give money to. In the past their support has gone to:

Take Heart
Life Flight Trust
Australia Bush Fire
Sailability

Award honours E-Learning Porirua Trust work

E-Learning Porirua Trust has won the Educational and Child/Youth Development category in the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards for Porirua City.

The E-Learning Porirua Trust funds and manages the delivery of digital education and training services in the community be delivering consistent and high quality training services to families in Porirua's low decile areas through the Computers in Home programme.

The Trust has contributed computers or finance for computers to 24 low decile schools in Porirua City. Children are now able to do their homework on a computer, meaning they are not so disadvantaged and are doing much better at school. The Board of Trustees are all volunteers who contribute their various business skills to the Board's primary function of fundraising and administering these funds.

There are also 100s of volunteers over the years who have contributed giving 1000s of hours assisting families, especially in low income areas to become computer literate. This has led to many parents gaining computer skills and getting full-time employment as the Prime Minister found out when, earlier this year, he attended the launch of the Porirua Digital Trust. The work of E-Learning Porirua Trust had a huge influence on the Porirua Digital Trust being awarded US$400,000 by Hewlett-Packard for hardware in the community at Community Access Points and Netpods in our schools.

Course 33

Hard work and dedication saw these families complete 10 weeks of training with the assistance of a Burmese translator. 11 Burmese families consisting of 20 people, successfully completed course 33 and graduated on September 23 2009. Burmese families gathered each week on a Thursday evening from 5.30pm - 8.00pm to participate in Computers in Homes and learn Internet/Email and Word Processing. In addition to Computers in Homes, the families also participated and completed four Digital Step for work modules from Stepping UP.

Certificates were presented by Winnie Laban. Also present at the graduation were: E-Learning trust members; Graham Kelly, Pamela Meekings-Stewart and Wendy Betteridge, Plimmerton Rotary Club President; David Pine and Refugee Migrant Service (RMS) Director; Jay Edwin.

A big thank you to all the Refugee Migrant Service (RMS) volunteers who attended and assisted the families they support to take their computers home.

Course 32

20 students from Course 32 graduated successfully on Wednesday 23 September 2009 after completing 10 weeks of training. Not only did they receive a computer and attendance certificate, they also received a Stepping UP certificate for completing four Digital Step for Work modules in the popular Stepping UP programme. Stepping UP requires students to complete 10 hours of training.

Certificates were presented by Employment Hub Acting Manager; Arlyta Huriwai. Also present at the graduation were: E-Learning trust members; Graham Kelly, Pamela Meekings-Stewart and Murray Woodley, and Plimmerton Rotary Club President; David Pine.