April 15 was not only an occasion to celebrate the fact it was raining, after months of drought. It was also the day when 19 parents were officially recognised at Mangonui School, followed by 18 at Umawera, as graduates of the Computers in Homes programme.
No one minded getting damp as they were welcomed to Mangonui School by the senior pupils before heading for a noticeably drier library for the graduation ceremony. Special guests included MPs Mike Sabin (who has children at the school) and Shane Jones (who once had children there), Computers in Homes national co-ordinator Di Daniels, who had travelled from Kapiti, Piripi Moore, from the 2020 Communications Trust, technician Brett Hunter and Far North regional co-ordinator Emma Tracey.
After some engaging words from the guests about the significance of digital literacy in homes and the importance of parents understanding issues of safety around the internet for tamariki, the certificates were presented and everyone settled in for some kai, cake and a chat.
Meanwhile, the impetus will continue next term (starting on Monday) with the introduction of "Stepping UP", free computer training for the wider community, so named because it is a step up from what the Computers in Homes graduates had learned over the previous 10 weeks of training. Topics on offer will range from digital design to home finances and work readiness; the students will vote for what they want, the majority ruling.
Anyone who is interested in taking part at Mangonui, Mangamuka or Tautoro School is welcome to contact Emma, phone (021) 047-6806, email emma.tracey@vodafone.net.nz.
Next day Di and Emma attended the graduation at Umawera School, where once again the pupils offered a very warm welcome.
Every one of the 18 graduates was adorned in a cap and gown made by the students, making the occasion even more special. They even threw their caps in the air in the time-honoured tradition. And once the families had loaded their refurbished PCs into their cars everyone tucked into a very impressive spread, including a celebratory cake.
Emma added that because the Umawera area was not scheduled to be upgraded on the Rural Broadband Initiative (if at all), Computers in Homes had successfully applied to internet NZ for funding to put into action its plan for rural community satellite broadband.
"Plans will be put into action to have a satellite erected at Umawera School, which our Computers in Homes families in that area, and the Mangamuka area, will be able to link to wirelessly," she said.
"This is a very exciting project for us, and we are chomping at the bit to get started and to get our whanau digitally linked in this digital world."