Graduation Day June 30th 2008

Friends and family and many supporters came to the magnificent old Eltham Town Hall to witness the Graduation of thirty-seven people from Computers in Homes.
All of the guest speakers acknowledged the huge achievement of the graduates and congratulated them on their success.
The mayor of South Taranaki District, Ross Dunlop, MP Harry Duynhoven, MP Chester Borrows, MP Tariana Turia and National Computers in Homes Coordinator Di Das spoke in a ceremony that graduates will remember for a long time.
Said one graduate: "I thought it was not going to be a big deal. We'd come along, someone would hand us a certificate, we'd all shake hands, have lunch and go home. I didn't even change outta my old clothes.
Then I walked into the hall, and Whoa, it IS a big deal. I was so embarrassed that I was in my old clothes.
It was a REALLY big deal."

Nanny, just play with it!

Tariana Turia tells us her Moko's advice.
Too often we adults are scared to proceed with new learning, especially when confronted with a computer. But kids have got it right: -
Just play with it.

Computers in the Boardroom

Waiting to go home with the students.

We had a LOT of help!

Linda was one of many former students who came back to help out in the new class. Here she is, cleaing up in the kitchen after morning tea.

To Mary, Trevor, Linda, Yolanda, Tyron, Glenise and others who have helped in the lab - Lots of thanks.

And to the ladies who helped produce those graduation lunches ... Thanks isn't enough. But thank you anyway.

THANK YOU ALL.

A Spirit of Cooperation

This is a typical sight we experienced in our Computers in Homes classes.

People helping each other, cooperating in each other's learning.

She thinks I'm joking!

But I'm not!
Yes, I DO mean you have ten minutes to finish that!

Heather enjoying the class.

March 28, 2008, A new class starts

We had two classes start today, with three more classes to start in a couple of weeks. There's a total of 48 students enrolled!

Here's some of the students attending the Wednesday evening class.