Youth members using the computer lab. ( Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – Executive Director Bill Parks of The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield is excited to announce the news of funding the Club has received from the Comcast Foundation to fund our Club Tech programs! This funding will enable members’ to develop their technical skills, creativity, and critical thinking through digital arts projects like web design and digital movie-making.
The Club has been chosen to receive a $20,000 grant in support of Club Tech 2012 and Comcast Digital Connectors 2012 -2013. Thanks to this funding, the Club will be able to continue breaking down the digital divide that impacts so many youth The Boys and Girls Club and the Comcast Foundation, are working together to make sure that children of all socio-economic backgrounds receive the vital access to technology that they need to become productive adults.
Club Tech is a broad range of supervised workshops in Internet safety, arts, photography, music composition, website design, print layout and movie making. In addition to these digital arts, youth improve their skills in math, science and other academic subjects using educational software. Through Club Tech, students also become proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
Charisse Angco, the Club’s technology and literacy coordinator describes Club Tech as, “an opportunity to reduce the digital divide so many children fall victim to by not having access to a computer in their home. Thanks to Comcast, these children will be able to develop computer skills here at the Club, where they can do homework, create movies, play games, develop Internet skills, and edit photos”.
The Club has made it a priority to expand programming that will give children the opportunity to explore their creativity and learn new skills. The Club believes exposing children to new technology skills will improve their creative thinking ability and expose them to possible career opportunities and/or give them a new hobby or passion. The program will create a stronger link between technology and education – as it is in the real world. The Club is teaching children the skills they will need to succeed in school and in their future careers.
Alyssa, a ten-yea-old participant in the Club Tech program, says that, “I always thought computers were just for games, but in Club Tech I learned that you can do so much more. You can design web pages, get help with your homework, make movies, and build your own games”.
If you would like to learn more about Club Tech, or the other great programs being offered at the Boys and Girls Club, please call Kellie Brown, Director of Operations at 413.562.2301 or visit our website at www.BGCWestfield.org.
Karissa St. Pierre is the Assistant Development and Marketing Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield
