Existing Computers in Homes Projects in New Zealand:
Historical Progression of CIH Projects
Current Computers in Homes Projects
Established Computers in Homes Projects
CIH Projects for Refugee Children and their Families
Ruatoria
Hiruharama School - 2005:
Hiruharama School has a vibrant learning culture which has embraced CIH and made the most of the opportunity. Training became a social as well as educational event, with one mother becoming quite famous for her Filipino cooking, resulting in an active email group for sharing recipes! Those wanting to learn from her were enlisted as chefs for the CIH launch, and a huge hakari was prepared at the local marae for the graduation. This plush sit-down event was attended by elders from Ruatoria and Hiruharama, the mayor of Gisborne and educators from the region. The families' homes are spread over a considerable distance, usually with the children bussed to school, but CIH has brought parents into the school. A subsequent visit by CIH found parents who had come for a CIH revision morning tea, still at work in the staff room at 2pm! The project numbers extended from 25 to 29 when Coke Oceania offered CIH laptops for families without power at home. The children bring the laptop to school for recharging and take it home to do their homework at night. Principal Bill Hughes is delighted with the results for children's learning and for the parents' involvement in their children's education.
Hiruharama children and their families are showing evidence of upskilling, with one 6yr old telling the Principal all about “missing factors” he had learned about from a Maths CD at home. A Gisborne CIH father has published a book of children's poetry and is working on a second: all writing and graphics produced on the family's CIH computer. Another parent is studying B.Ed at the local Wananga.
