WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRANSPOWER & REMARKIT

14th May 2012

Under a new agreement, Transpower now provides retired IT stock to Remarkit www.remarkit.co.nz  to refurbish. Any equipment that cannot be refurbished is recycled. Useable equipment is onsold to the public or Transpower staff via a staff portal, and proportion is provided free to community groups, with the main donation going to CIH.

·         The handover of laptops from Transpower, Remarkit to Computers in Homes scheduled for   this coming Monday afternoon will be the first batch of refurbished laptops donated from Transpower to Computers In Homes (CIH)www.computersinhomes.org.nz.  Ten laptops are to be provided to CIH to be used by the Coordinator for Wellington/Hutt Valley.  The laptops will form a mobile pod, to be used for training purposes for the various CIH school courses, the first starting at Taita’s Pomare Primary School.   (Di can provide more detail)

·         Anna Ririnui, Transpower’s Manager Community and Corporate Responsibility, “We’re really happy to support such a successful and valuable programme”.

From back:
Tim Findlay (RemarkIT Director), Anna Ririnui (Transpower Manager Community and Corporate Responsibility), Chris Worsley (Principal Pomare School), John Tiaki (CIH Tutor), Di Daniels (CIH National Coordinator) and Cr Gwen McDonald (Northern WardHutt City Council) 

 From left:
Laurence Zwimpfer ( 2020 Communications Trust), Di Daniels (CIH National Coordinator), Tim Findlay (RemarkIT Director) Anna Ririnui (Transpower), Jan (Transpower)

Petone Central Last Class

We had our last night session for Petone Central tonight.  It was a great night even though we had a few technical glitches in the system.  It has been a privilege to work with the whanau of Petone Central and it is quite sad knowing I won't be seeing them all on a regular basis.

Below are the comments the participants wrote when asked "What benefits & experiences have you gained through participating in the Petone Central Computers In Homes Programme and what do you now see possible?".

At the beginning I was worried.  But I saw everyone were like bees in a honey bud.  I was struggling, but the tutor was great. – Whastar Melford

I thought I know everything about computers.  “Free Computer lol!!!”. I was sold.  Then I came to class and learnt things I couldn’t have learnt by myself.  I loved learning about how to be internet safe, keeping track of internet sites and usage.  “Briar Kopa” you rock girl J. – Briar Mita

Just to be able to do simple little tasks on the computer has been a huger help for my children and I. – Renee Keepa

I have 2 boys at Petone and when I heard about the course I jumped at the chance and am glad I did.  I love it and learnt many helpful things. – Deanna Thompson

Just being taught a few simple tasked eg. How to scan my computers, has been a great thing to have been taught.  As I will now start doing it on my new computer. – Candice Warren

I was putt off by the 2hour sessions, thinking they were going to be hard, long, drag on and full of big complicated computer words.  But the first session and the ones to follow were the total opposite. – Melissa Watene

This programme made me realize that it doesn’t matter how old you are, your never to old to learn something new. – Moe Galuefa

I feel happy I’m leaving with enough knowledge to share with my family. – Kelly Jackson

Briar you’re the bomb, understanding, easy to talk to and so patient.  You made class fun to come to and that’s important for me. – Sharma

I was a pleasure coming to Computers In Homes Programme as Briar was a great tutor.  Very friendly and knowledgeable.  Having a computer at home will help my sons education. – Ian Christiansen

Being half a century of age, I didn’t think I could get this far. – Kim Jackson

1^st don’t bring my moko (age 6).  He is a know it all unlike me.  I thought I was… Not!!! Lol – Jackie Okeroa

First Session: 3.30pm - 5.30pm every Tuesday
Second Session: 6.00pm - 8.00pm every Tuesday
School Champion: Iosua Esera - Principal
Tutor:  Briar Kopa
Technician: Peter Wright

Petone Central whanau commenced their Computers In Homes Programme on 17th February 2012.

The first class was a great success with 7 whanau members participating.

Not only did the whanau learn something new within the programme, they learnt something new about the members within the programme through an Ice Breaker Task.

The parents felt comfortable to bring their tamariki as some were unable to find care for them.  As you can see below, the parents were working busy through the training manual while the tamariki were outside interacting.  When the parents took a small coffee break, the tamariki then ran to the computer where they displayed outrageous talent in social networking and online gaming sites.

Tony, Deanna and Kathryn working together to change their screen display

Juanita commencing a Paintshop exercise

Star, Melissa and Jackie all working on the screen display exercise

The tamariki are just getting to know one another as I have my tamariki there to enjoy the beautiful sun and to interact with tamariki from different schools

The tamariki enjoying the beautiful day while their parents are inside learning more information on ICT

Michelle completing her Paintshop exercise

Kim is familiarising herself with the functionality of the computers

Tamariki enjoying leisure time on the computer while their parents are on their evening break

Unfortunately the 2nd class was not as full as the first, however I am in close contact with Iosua so that we can communicate freely with the absent whanau.

All in all, it was an awesome 1st Session with a parent who did not want to leave :-).

Meeting Scott @ Remarket

 Myself, Scott Alford & Di Das.

Visiting the new RemarkIT Premises now based in Tawa - Wellington.

Di Das and Scott Alford... sealing another deal :-)

Petone Central Training POD.... Whanau of Petone Central will commence the Computers In Homes Programme on 17th December 2012

Commencement Date

All things are firing for Petone Central.  With the date set, Petone Central will be commencing their first class on February 17th 2012.  I look forward to personally tutoring the Petone Central School Computers In Homes Parents.  It is my intent is to deliver to the whanau, an organised, fun filled, educated lesson for the next 10 weeks.
Ma te wa,

Watch this space people

Happy New 2012!!

I do hope the Christmas period has treated you all well.  Things are starting roll in the Wellington Region with the commencement date drawing near for Berhampore School and Petone Central School Computer In Homes Programme.  Taita College start date is just around the corner as well so watch this space for more information.

Success Story

Success Story for Briar Kopa Computers In Homes

Kia ora,

My name is Briar Kopa and I originate from a little place called Matawaia – Kaikohe.  I moved down to Wellington in 2006 where I began working at the Stokes Valley Community House.  From there I became familiar with the community and joined the local Stokes Valley Women’s Rugby Team and the Stokes Valley Netball Team.  Through my bubbly approach to the community, I had been offered a job at the local Marae – Koraunui Marae, where I worked there for 4years and formed a wider profile for myself within the Hutt Valley NGO Community.

Koraunui Marae Manager Heneriata Gemmell has formed a close network with the local Primary Schools, more so Tui Glen School.

I was approached by the Principal of Tui Glen School to become the tutor of Computers In Homes.  I had no idea who or what Computers In Homes was, for me I thought “I’m going to Rarotonga at the end of the year, there goes some putia for my trip”.  I attended the whanau hui in which I met Di Das.  This is where I learnt Computers In Homes is an initiative that targets low decile communities with whanau without access to the internet.  My first thought was “Wow, what an awesome opportunity for these whanau… how can I hook on as a parent”.

Becoming a tutor for Computers In Homes reignited a passion to play an active role within the wider community.  Seeing how sharing my knowledge with a parent of a school and watching her face light up when she could move her mouse around the screen to select the startup menu was priceless.

I was then emailed the vacant position for the Wellington Regional Coordinator from Di Das and thought “this is the job for me!”  I emailed Di my interest, met Naiki (administrator at the time) and Barbara (20/20 Trust Member) and Di for my interview.  I was very nervous as this was my first professional interview but felt so passionate about the cause or initiative behind Computers In Homes whakaaroa and feel that is what pulled me through the interview.

So here I am, the new appointed Wellington Regional Coordinator for Computers In Homes.