Café.com is the gateway to new learning project
17 July 2007
MEDIA RELEASE
17 July, 2007
Café.com is the gateway to new learning project
An innovative life-long learning Karingal project, for some of the most marginalised people in the community, has just received a $33,000 funding injection from the Coles Group Community Fund.
The Project is titled Café.com - computer literacy and lifelong e-learning and the new Gateway Plaza Coles store at Leopold inspired the Project’s “gateway” to lifelong learning theme. Classes commence from next week and will start with eight participants, all who have a disability.
Karingal Project Leader Leanne Dugdale, said that in today’s information economy, access to the internet and e-learning is imperative, with computer literacy an essential tool for participating in everyday life.
“Café.com is a unique program in that it fills a void for socially isolated and disadvantaged members of the community who would otherwise lack the confidence or entry level skills to engage in a more structured computer training program. It provides non-formal, individualised learning in a supportive, social environment where participants can learn at their own pace with the support of skilled staff. In addition students will have the opportunity to express a "voice' through digital storytelling,” said Leanne.
The everyday internet skills may include such things as:
• Emailing
• Banking online
• Job hunting online
• Using ebay
• E-learning
• Using a search engine
“Lifelong Learning helps us acquire the skills needed to survive and function in our everyday lives. Most of us take these skills for granted, but for some in the community, they may not only have limited access to technology, they may also have virtually no opportunity to develop the necessary skills to access computer information,” said Leanne.
“Karingal is extremely grateful to Coles for providing this funding for such a worthwhile project.”
The Café.com recruits all participants to this project through referral from Karingal branches and services.
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For further information contact:
Helen Kostiuk 0413 754 606