Global Tech Company Invests into New Zealand & Pacific Youth

Global Tech Company Invests into New Zealand & Pacific Youth

Today the High Tech Youth Network (HTYN) announced funding from the Adobe Foundation of $75,000 in addition to over $250,000 provided through licenses, scholarships, summits and industry certification. The Adobe Foundation is the Corporate Responsibility arm of the Adobe Corporation, through the ADOBE YOUTH VOICES (AYV) programme.

The grant and ongoing software donations will be used in New Zealand and the Pacific to enable youth to creatively communicate a vision for change in their communities and lives through digitally inspiring video, print and audio projects.

HTYN youth in New Zealand have been a part of the ADOBE YOUTH VOICES (AYV) programme since 2007. Kane Milne, Director of Learning at HTYN, says that with a proven track record of empowering over 33,500 young people in 55 countries around the world the AYV program not only develops remarkable talent in youth but also where technology itself has become one of the most powerful tools for youth to express themselves, and do so in a very positive and powerful way.

A recipient of the benefits of the AYV program is Veisinia Ha’unga an alumni of the High Tech Youth Network who is now studying a Bachelor of Education at the University of Auckland; she says the AYV program equipped her with the knowledge and confidence to dream big dreams. This along with being supported by caring and inspirational adult mentors at her local High Tech Youth Studio “Studio 274” in Otara, has not only seen her go onto University but being selected as an international judge this year for the annual global Adobe awards.

Ha’unga was able to participate in the AYV program after-school most days at Studio 274, but she was also selected to attend an AYV Youth Summit in 2012, the third time in a row that AYV have sponsored HTYN youth from New Zealand and an experience youth from hard-to-reach communities would not normally be able to experience, reports Milne.

Through the direct support of the Adobe Foundation Milne and his team have been able to increase their capacity this year to start training teachers in schools and also provide recognised industry Adobe credentials to both teachers and young people. Last year a thirteen year old boy at Studio 274 sat and passed this industry certification course, arguably one of the youngest people in New Zealand to achieve this standard.

To celebrate the announcement of the Adobe Foundations support to HTYN David Cunliffe leader of the Labour Party will be joining with young people at Studio 274.

When: Friday 15 August, 2.00pm
Where: Studio 274, 51 Othello Drive – Clover Park, Manukau City

About High Tech Youth Network
HTYN is focused on empowering young people aged 8-25 years of age who live in under-served and hard to reach communities throughout the Asia-Pacific region to become more confident, resilient and creative life-long learners by linking cultural knowledge with advanced technology.

HTYN was established in 2004 as a not-for-profit organization and is headquartered in New Zealand (Auckland) and the United States (Hawaii) with contact centres in Fiji, Sydney (Australia), and Washington DC (USA), and presently is serving just under 4000 youth across the Oceanic region.

The High Tech Youth Network core objectives are:
• To empower young people and communities to become more capable, creative and confident lifelong learners.
• To foster the growth of a learning community, through the sharing of ideas and support.
• To encourage in young people the development of a positive identity and belief in their potential, through linking cultural knowledge and values with technology.
• To champion, support, manage, research and implement services and projects that will further the above objectives within New Zealand and the Pacific.

For more information on the High Tech Youth Network, visit: http://hightechyouth.org/

About Adobe Youth Voices
Adobe Youth Voices is the Adobe Foundation’s global philanthropic initiative that empowers youth from underserved communities with digital media skills so they can comment on their world, share their ideas and take action on issues that are important to them. By harnessing the energy and insight of youth 13–19 years old, Adobe Youth Voices aims to inspire a dialogue for change in their communities.

The program engages youth to express themselves through documentary videos, photography, print media, radio diaries, animation, Web communications and other media. The Adobe Youth Voices global network now includes more than 800 sites, grantees and organizations in 50 countries, engaging over 150,000 youth and 8,200 educators in schools and out-of-school programs. For more information, visit www.youthvoices.adobe.com.

About the Adobe Foundation
The Adobe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created and funded by Adobe Systems Incorporated to leverage human, technological and financial resources to drive social change and community improvements.

ENDS

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