South Dunedin and Kaipara Districts First to Benefit from New Microsoft Initiative Aimed at Helping Boost Computer Literacy and Work-Force Development, Microsoft's Unlimited Potential Initiative Kicks Off with Two Community Groups Sharing More Than $200,000 In Grants and Software Donations and a New Training Programme.

South Dunedin's Approach Adult Learning Centre, part of the Dunedin Methodist Mission, and Helensville's Te Awaroa Youth Club are the inaugural New Zealand beneficiaries of Microsoft's Unlimited Potential (UP) initiative. Designed to help increase computer literacy amongst New Zealand's underserved communities and reduce the digital divide in technology skills, Unlimited Potential will provide combinations of financial grants, software donations, and a training curriculum to successful nonprofit organisations.  There will be two calls for applications per year and a commitment by Microsoft to UP for the next four years. Ross Peat, Managing Director of Microsoft New Zealand congratulates Approach and Te Awaroa Youth Club, highlighting that without community centre support the gap between those that have technology access and those that don't could be even wider.

Peat says that in the past literacy and numeracy have been considered essential skills in helping ensure people are not left behind. “Today, with many areas of employment requiring people to use or at least know how to use the basics of digital technology, we need to think more broadly about literacy and expand it to ensure New Zealanders confidently enter the workforce with life skills in digital and information literacy.

“Technology skills have become one of the biggest enablers in improving opportunities and recent research shows that training in ICT has a greater effect on an individual's capacity to increase their earning power than training in any other subject.” ¹

Increasing Community 'Connection' Key Benefit of Microsoft Support
Nick Orbell, Director of Approach Employment and Training Programmes is delighted that the people of South Dunedin will be one of the first communities to benefit from Microsoft's Unlimited Potential. “The South Dunedin Community has more than its fair share of people without qualifications, or without skills in computing or access to the Internet.

“We know that these are just some of the barriers to people breaking out of poverty, but this support will enable us, with some other community groups, to make real learning opportunities available in this community. We are looking to work in partnerships to make best use of our resources and believe this collaborative approach will be a key factor in enabling local change,” says Orbell.

“The donation from Microsoft will enable us to help around 300 local people gain new skills and confidence with computers and Information Technology. This in turn will improve their job and promotion prospects, and strengthen learning in their own families.  We hope to increase Connection in our community, in more ways than one!” Approach plans to use Microsoft's grant and support materials to fund skilled staff, some additional computer equipment, and associated operating costs.

Kaipara Youth Club Confident that Real Changes Will Result
Heidi Bassett, Manager of Te Awaroa Youth Club applauds the Microsoft initiative and is confident that the Kaipara District can show other communities what a positive difference technical development programmes can have on individuals and families in achieving employment, further education and self sufficiency. “We believe the technical training centre will offer valuable tools which will aid our youth and others in furthering their education and enabling a significant chance of employment.”

The Youth Club hopes to help 240 local people gain new technical skills as a result of Unlimited Potential and also plans to use the grant from Microsoft to engage skilled training staff and computer equipment. Applications for the next round of Unlimited Potential grants close in October 2004.  Further information can be found at www.microsoft.com/nz/citizenship.

About Unlimited Potential
Microsoft began its philanthropic activities in 1983, and it was one of the first philanthropic efforts in the high-tech industry. Microsoft Unlimited Potential is a global program that focuses on improving lifelong learning for underserved young people and adults by providing technology skills through community-based technology and learning centers. Microsoft believes that by providing the necessary training and tools, it will help create social and economic opportunities that can transform communities and enable people to realize their potential. More information can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/citizenship/.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.

About Approach
Since 1987, the Dunedin Methodist Mission through Approach has operated an Adult Learning Centre.  The overall focus of the centre is to create long-term change and growth for good, with a more specific goal of enabling people to restart learning and to find their own ways of contributing to their communities.  Approach believes that by helping local South Dunedin-ites gain the skills and confidence to successfully participate in community life, and in employment, South Dunedin is on the path to achieving a more “connected community” in every sense of the term. 

About Te Awaroa Youth Club
Based in Helensville, north of Auckland, the Te Awaroa Youth Club seeks to encourage the young people of the Kaipara District to recognise and realise their full potential by providing a place for them to go where they can learn skills and develop an individual style. Established in 2002, the Club primarily targets youth aged 12 to 17, although there are programmes and facilities that the whole community can enjoy.

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¹Daldy and Gibson, 'Have Computers Changed the New Zealand Wage Structure? Evidence from Data on Training.' NZ Journal of Industrial Relations (2003, 28(1): pp 13-21

For more information, press only:
Carol Leishman, Communications Manager, Microsoft New Zealand,
Email: carolle@microsoft.com, Ph: 09-357 5806 or 021 636 607

Carmela Salisbury, Account Director, Text 100 New Zealand Ltd,
Email: carmela.salisbury@text100.co.nz, Ph: 09-3575 844

Nick Orbell, Director, Approach Adult Learning Centre,
Email : norbell@approach.org.nz, Ph: 03 487 7959 or 027 587 7959

Heidi Bassett, Manager, Te Awaroa Youth Club,
Email : heidib@actrix.co.nz, Ph: 09 420 7977

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft New Zealand Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/nz/ on Microsoft's corporate information pages.