Backyard shed goes High Tech to create digital futures

Backyard shed goes High Tech to create digital futures for Kiwi youth

Studio MPHS – operated by McLaren Park & Henderson South Community Trust will officially launch its new High Tech Youth Network, Tech Shed on Monday 16th June at Studio MPHS at 4.30pm today.

The new Tech Shed will be officially opened by United States Consul General, Jim Donegan, who will be making the first donation to the project, of recyclable hardware for youth to pull apart and re-engineer.

US Consul General Jim Donegan says the US Embassy and American companies in New Zealand are long-time supporters of the High Tech Youth Network.

“This 21st century ‘Kiwi shed’ reflects the creativity of New Zealanders and those in the broader Pacific region, of which the United States is a part.

“We’re proud to be associated with this project; educational models like this will produce the Sam Morgans of our future,” Mr Donegan said.

The MPHS Studio, is affiliated to the Pacific wide High Tech Youth Network.

High Tech Youth Network (HTYN) is an inter-connected network of studios and communities in New Zealand and across the Pacific that provide free digital education programmes to under-served youth.

HTYN’s Tech Shed draws on the current trend of the “maker movement” that extends DIY culture through the use of technology.

The Tech Shed will provide opportunities for social enterprise development in the community by connecting youth members with mentors to provide ideas, products and services to industry and business networks.

Mike Usmar, CEO of the High Tech Youth Network says “next month our Network turns ten years old, we first started with a bunch of ten and eleven year old children, who have now grown up, many are now at University finishing degrees, however we also realised that a number of youth were ready to explore setting up their own digital business, and so our goal now is to add Tech Sheds to all current and new HTY Studios across the region to promote new social and economic opportunities as a way of transforming underserved communities from the inside out.”

Tech Shed
In the 21st Century, technology has provided access to knowledge for the masses. The ability to synthesize that knowledge into social and commercial enterprises that sustain and provide economically for individuals, families and communities is at the heart of the High Tech Youth Network Tech Shed.

Tech Shed is all about providing opportunities for social enterprise development, ideas development, research and development and commercialization of ideas/products/services.

Tech Shed will connect members to industry and business networks to support their concept development and build their practical business acumen.

Tech Shed will work with families and wider community around high tech skills and enterprise development focused on high tech opportunities.

Rebooting the kiwi shed.

To achieve this Tech Shed is recruiting “Tech Shed Mentors” to support youth in both digital skills but also setting up their own digital business, and are encouring people interested in becoming a mentor to go to www.hightechyouth.org/volunteeryourtime

High Tech Youth Network
HTYN empowers young people through the use of digital creative technology to build a thriving 21st century learning community. Each studio offers an out of school learning environment, which combines elements of an artist’s studio, inventor’s workshop, TV newsroom, architect’s studio, robotics lab and music studio. The goal is to ignite in youth their own interests and passion and empower them to become more capable, creative, and confident lifelong learners.

For more information, visit www.hightechyouth.org

ENDS

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