Graduates Corner: Tote Hemehema

Bayley, Tote and Rhythm Hemehema

Before becoming involved in the Computers in Homes Programme, I must admit, I was a little sceptical. It’s not every day that an amazing opportunity is offered to you. However, upon reflection, it was one of the best decisions I made filling out that application form.

My name is Tote, I am a single parent of two gifted strong children, whom I have always called my cookie monstaz. My daughter Baylie is 14yrs, attends Massey High School and my son Rhythm, is 9yrs, attends Lincoln Heights School in Massey and it was through his school, that we became part of the Computers in Homes Family.

I work as a NZ Sign Language Interpreter and with my job and being so involved in the Deaf Community, I need to have access to the Internet and skype in order to maintain easier contact with everything technical for work and also with Deaf. It can be extremely hard to rely on face to face contact with the Deaf Community, skype makes life so much easier when life is hard enough trying to juggle everything, especially as a single parent. Being an Interpreter is not just my job, its my lifestyle - and what better way to give back than being able to share my voice and my gift of hearing with the Deaf World on a daily basis.

I was blessed with a webcam from Cara on Graduation night. Having a computer at home with access to the internet has enabled me to do my job better, maintain contact with the Deaf Community, allows my monstaz the opportunity to learn more online but has also reawakened their pasison for learning. They ask more questions, they want to know more, they want to excel in school and they’re hungry for knowledge, and knowledge is power. The most amazing part of this journey is that we have been able to spend more quality time together!

Absolutely anything is possible if you believe. I believe it, my monstaz believe it and I will continue encouraging others to believe. I also believe in Computers in Homes. Their organisation has the power to educate families via the internet from home. This not only opens our lives to a world of opportunities with new eyes, it encourages family bonds, the sharing of idea’s, the hunger for learning and the gift of being able to give back.

It’s been an amazing journey with Computers in Homes and I give my sincere thanks and appreciation to Cara and her Team, who on a daily basis, share their magic by showing the world, that ANYTHING, is indeed possible.

THE LATEST OF THE LATEST NEWS!

GRADUATIONS GALORE!

Where do I begin?!

Extra funding

Auckland received an early Christmas present in the latter part of 2013 of additional funding to help MORE whanau train and become the proud owners of a computer.  How many whanau you say?  An extra 75 whanau!  Overall Auckland has graduated 200 plus extra whanau for the year 2013-14.  No mean feat but we have a long way to go.

Koru School

The first graduation to kick off our July rush was the very musical Koru School.  Music permeated almost every aspect of the graduation from the entrance to the final wave as the last computer headed off to its new residence.  Our guest for the evening was Deputy Leader of the NZ First Party, Tracey Martin.  Our introductions were via theme tunes played for us.  I had 'Best of My Love' and Tracey had 'Got To Be Real'.  (If you click the titles - you can relive those musical moments with us.)   I must brag about the Koru School Band - their rendition of 'Proud Mary' was foot stomping good stuff.  I love that so many of the tamariki had an item to share to celebrate mum and dad's success.

Congratulations Koru School Graduates

Celebrating with NZ /First MP Tracey Martin

GRADUATIONS AND CONGRATULATIONS

Proud graduate and BFF support - Pomaria School

What a rush as the rest of our projects graduated and whanau gathered excitedly to share in the success of each student.  Our trainers were widely acknowledged for their efforts and above all their patience in ensuring that all of our participants met the project requirements - sometimes it's just not that easy BUT congratulations to our whanau on persevering.  Thank you to our trainers:  Fea Lyons and Kathryn Eltringham (Avondale Intermediate), Dorothy Stewart (Birdwood School and Lincoln Heights), Jacqui Edwards (Pomaria School) and Maria Orr (Royal Road School).  

Avondale Intermediate

Sharing a thumbs up with trainer Maria Orr - Royal Road School

Proud whanau of Mary Theresa Kershaw - Avondale Intermediate

Working Out West

Principals GALORE!  Royal Road Meeting -
 Mike Carswell-Griffiths, Wayne Leighton, Kevin Choromanski, Debbie Waikato and to the right - Joanne Hardwidge

We decided to work with our West and Central Auckland schools, welcoming aboard - Avondale Intermediate (early in Term 2), Birdwood School, Royal Road School, Pomaria School and Lincoln Heights.

The enthusiasm is contagious as is the cheek given by the guy pointing at everyone else.

Most of these schools are also Community Hub hosts - they welcome their communities in and now have the added extra of a computer pod to deliver computer training courses, beginning with Computers in Homes to the many families in waiting.

Whanau evenings will be booked soon and I am looking forward to the new roads being finished out their way along with the UFB fibre being completed.  The roadworks are INCREDIBLE when you are heading out that way!

Watch this space :)   

SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES - Shwe Family

Earlier this year in January - the holiday season and a time when families are relaxing before the onset of the school year - the Shwe family of Papatoetoe were doing just that.  Their holidays were 'interrupted' by the opportunistic theft of their home while everyone was out.  You can read their story here.

Two of the Shwe children attend Aorere College.  On hearing about the incident concerning the Shwe family, Principal Pat Drumm asked me if there was any way we could help these students continue their studies and homework with a computer.  We were more than happy to support Aorere College, a host of CIH graduates, and donate a desktop set up for the Shwe family.  

We met with the family and the senior school at a school assembly.  They were presented with their computer package and free training in our Stepping Up programme.  The family were humbled by the school's compassion for their situation and responded with big smiles for Computers in Homes.

Well done Aorere!

 The Shwe Family with Deputy Principal Lynne van Etten, Aorere College.