Grant helps Manitoba E-Association fund youth employment and technology training programs
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates increases worldwide support for community technology centres
Mississauga, ON - February 22, 2006 - Manitoba's E-Association has expanded its support of youth employment and technology training programs across the province thanks to a recent grant from Microsoft. The grant, part of Microsoft's worldwide Unlimited Potential (UP) program, has helped train 100 youth, who now serve as technology resources in their home communities throughout Manitoba. The funding also supports learning programs in the Canupawakpa and Sioux Valley Dakota Nations First Nations communities.
"Many children and youth lack basic computer skills," said Sabinah Rafiq, Project Manager, Manitoba E-Association. "Computer skills and other forms of remote e-learning made possible through the Microsoft UP grant are essential to help Manitoba youth access further education and eventually join the workforce."
The latest round of Microsoft UP grants, recently announced by Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation will support 126 non-profit organizations that are expanding existing programs or opening new community technology centres (CTCs) in 64 countries, bringing the number of centres to 36,000 and the estimated number of people who can benefit from the centres to more than 15 million. Through the UP program, Microsoft is working to help a quarter-billion people around the world gain access to the technology, learning curriculum and skills training necessary to support employability and foster economic development in communities where they live.
"The benefits of technology training extend far beyond the individual who attends the courses at the centres - they help improve the social and economic opportunities of entire families, businesses and communities," said Gavin Thompson, Director, Community Affairs, Microsoft Canada Co. "These grants support the hard work of local associations to provide the tools and training to foster economic empowerment in all types of communities, from rural towns to urban areas."
The Manitoba E-Association programs include:
| • | CAP Youth and Web-4-All Youth Initiatives - brought 100 youth to Winnipeg to train them in community focused technology skills such as: creating newsletters with Microsoft® Word, writing success stories, basic HTML, photoshop, computer hardware and online safety. The youth then returned to their communities where they serve as resources for other staff and the public in local community organizations. |
| • | Office Learning Technologies Program (OLT) - in association with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the OLT works with the Canupawakpa and Sioux Valley Dakota Nations First Nations communities to encourage digital learning, skills development and community capacity building as well as a mentorship program in the Information Communication Technology field. These programs will then be shared with other First Nations communities in Manitoba. |
| • | Computer Lending Library - in association with Selkirk Learning Centre, this program lends computers to people with disabilities, students, the unemployed, new immigrants, youth entrepreneurs, seniors and others who need to build digital skills for employment opportunities or to improve quality of life. |
About the Manitoba E-Association
The Manitoba E-Association is a coalition of community serving organizations (CSOs), which offers a variation of e-services and strategic solutions. The Manitoba E-Association works together with both the public and private sectors to build community capacity and establish collaborative, mutually-beneficial knowledge and resource sharing networks. The Manitoba E-Association employs a variety of Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategies that takes advantage of relatively new information channels (the internet, Digital Media, video conferencing, Virtual Private Networks) for means of education, information, working creatively with others across Manitoba and provide efficient delivery of quality services to businesses and the community. www.mb.e-association.ca
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has 10 regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Visit Microsoft Canada's web site at www.microsoft.ca
©2006 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
