The idea
We need help to continue to run our activities for children and young people aged 8-16 living in deprived areas of Havering.
Pledging to our project will enable us to buy 15 laptops and other accessories needed to carry out our activities in order to cater for the most vulnerable and deprived in our communities during our face to face sessions.
Currently, the library only has provision for 2 desktops designated for children which is highly insufficient for the library use. Having our equipment to work with means children and young people can always walk in and use our services for FREE. To curb the spread of Covid-19, Children coming into our session can no longer share equipment except from the same household.
This will help us raise STEM awareness and build digital heroes whilst bridging the shortage of skills gap in the industry and empowering BAME communities.
What we'll deliver
- Purchase equipment for STEAM learning.
- Delivering STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) learning sessions.
Why it's a great idea
Our project brings communities together.
Promote the use of the library- public space
Provides Free STEAMlearning.
We were one of the very few organisations supporting children during COVID-19 lockdown since March, in the way we do.
Being a women-led organisation and a mother of 3 living in a BAME community that works with children and young people, having a support network for children is a priority.
BAME communities are hit hardest by COVID-19 pandemic - from finances to health and education with little or no support. The children also have a fair share of this domino's effects of the recent crisis which sadly affects their mental health and further reflects on the way they behave.
To properly support them, we provide a platform to engage children and young people in learning, playing, staying creative and collaborating (pro and post Covid-19). This provides not only a healthy distraction from the pandemic, It helps children deal with the negative effects of living in lockdown.
Steps to get it done
- We already provide services to support our local library in Harold Hill.
- Sessions are currently held every Thursday term time at the library.
- Sessions have been consistent for nearly 4 years and the children keep coming back
- Provided over 400 hours of FREE online learning during lockdown which provided a support network for children.
- We received part sponsorship from BDgiving towards ongoing SUMMER events which ends on the 28th of August 2020.
- Our FREE platform provides and a medium for children to learn, play stay create, collaborate and build vital skills.
With the rate of boredom increasing in children, leading to anxiety and sucide in extreme cases as we have seen. Our support network provides a safe haven for children and young people.
We provided over 400 hours of uninterrupted learning targeted towards children and young people; over the 18 weeks period of living in lockdown with our online learning.
As lockdown gradually eases, we will resume our face to face session at Harold Hill library.
