“Unlimited potential course” to revitalise local communities

A new course, the Unlimited Potential course, being initiated jointly by the Government of New Zealand and Microsoft, aims to give computer skills to people who may never have had the opportunity. The course aims at revitalising the local communities by providing them computer training within the community itself. Minister for the Community, Winnie Laban, is formally launching the course this afternoon, and says the entire country can benefit. She says as a result people will be able to communicate and be better informed thanks to improved access to knowledge and ideas. Ms Laban says new skills can lead to new jobs and creative alternatives to dead-end employment. Microsoft NZ Managing Director Ross Peat says the examples of countries like Ireland and Singapore have already shown what happens when a population has crossed the digital divide. He says their emphasis on information technology helped turn their entire economies around in the space of a couple of decades. Mr Peat says some of the pilot schemes have been very solidly based in the local communities, with Microsoft providing network equipment, PCs and software to enable the training to be carried out actually in the community rather than elsewhere. He says the technology and the software provide opportunities for people to realise their potential, and can transform lives. Read more

 Printable version