Asylum Seekers Centre Computer Classes

What is Connectivity?

IMPORTANT:

In NSW, there is one Connectivity Program, it is mainly ran out of University of Sydney and University of NSW at the moment but we are happy for any help from anywhere! For more information, visit the NSW Connectivity Page, that's where things are happening and being organised:D. Check out the Volunteering Opportunities, Events and sign in to say hi in the Discussion section!

What and why we do it

We strive to impart asylum seekers (at the Asylum Seeker\'s Centre of NSW- ASC) and people in socially disadvantaged situations (at Hope Street) with simple computer skills. Our goal also is to develop confidence and provide support by interacting with our students and caring for them in some of the most difficult times of their lives.

One of the things that makes volunteering great is that as we continue, we learn more about our outcomes, how we can measure/ not measure them, why we are there, why we should be there and what reasons are not good reasons to be there. So a secondary aim of the Connectivity Program is to develop understanding in us, as a group of volunteers, an idea of what \'helping\' means and how it can be very difficult.

2009 Semester 2, as a tream we will focus on continually improving our quality of teaching and support by tutor development sessions and further lesson creation and development. As a secondary focus: gaim media exposure in our local communities, attract attention of further volunteers and network similar programs.

When and how we do it

8 week session of classes ran att Hope Street in early 2009.

Classes at the ASC run every Thursday 1.15-3.30pm in 6 week sessions, with 1 week break in between. Address is 38 Nobbs Street Surry Hills. This is a 10min bus ride from Central or 20 min walk. You can also walk from Sydney Uni in about half an hour.

We are currently looking to find other partners who would benefit from our service. To help out with that, visit: the NSW Connectivity Page and watch out for updates and how you can participate (we do things all together in the whole state:).

 

How you can help

  1. Volunteer to tutor classes
  2. Develop lesson plans
  3. Publicity/ Gugu
  4. Other odds and ends
  5. Experienced volunteers can mentor new volunteers :)
  6. Become a Connectivity Initiator and help us find a new partner

Any questions or just want to chat to us? email connectivity dot coordinator [at] gmail dot com

JieLei