Time to Compute
Volunteers' Stories
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Alison and I got involved in Time to Compute 6 years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed our time since then. We go to Harpur's Hill primary school in Coleraine on a Wednesday morning and work with 4 children from Mrs Claire McVicker's class. We have been warmly welcomed by the school Principal Mr Radcliffe and the staff, including the secretary, teaching assistants and the caretaker Kenny. We have been invited to different events happening in the school, and we are always well topped up with plenty of biscuits and coffee! Every year, the different groups of children provide unique challenges, but we have lots of fun, and you can see their increased confidence by the end of the school year. |
We start off the year with basic keyboard skills, cutting and pasting Word documents, and using websites such as Wacky Tales and maths web pages .We then use a simulator game The Crystal Rainforest, again using their mouse and keyboard skills and also some maths along the way—the children really enjoy this game. At special times, such as Christmas, Halloween and Easter, we make cards and write letters. We then go on to Microsoft Publisher, and this year the children made leaflets on Liverpool and Manchester United football clubs; the film High School Musical; and the Beauty Pageants. Our finale every year is a PowerPoint presentation where they work together in teams of two. We have had presentations on football, the Titanic, jobs for dogs, and the history of fashion. The children this year have completed their presentation on the history of music and modelling. Every year, the children come to our office to see computers being used in the workplace, and they show their PowerPoint presentations to our colleagues—they find this very exciting and rewarding. They also then show their PowerPoint presentations to their classmates and to Mr Radcliffe! It has been a pleasure for Alison and me to be a small part of the Time to Compute programme organized by Business in the Community for the benefit of the Harpur's Hill children, and we would recommend this type of volunteering to anyone who may have the chance. Tracey Rosborough |
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As part of its commitment to Corporate Responsibility, Fujitsu participates in a number of volunteering schemes, one of which is Time to Compute. I got involved with Time to Compute when BITC first approached Fujitsu about becoming involved in 2005. The scheme entails working alongside Key Stage 2 children (8 - 10 year olds) to provide an insight into the business world; motivate and develop children academically and socially; introduce children to a positive role model from the world of work; and help children work on a one-to-one basis improving communication skills. |  |
The children have used various software packages provided by the school to improve their reading, writing and maths; they have completed presentations on PowerPoint, improved keyboarding skills and hopefully learnt a lot more besides. I was allocated to St Joseph's Primary School at Ballyhackamore. Both Eithne O'Hare and I have been volunteers from the start. This year, we have been joined by Roy Thompson from our company and also by Cathy Hawthorne who works for Steria. We have built great friendships with the staff and pupils at the school and have had plenty of fun along the way. Needless to say, the hour passes too quickly. Most weeks, you leave the school feeling reinvigorated as the enthusiasm of the children can be very infectious. Being involved with Time to Compute is very rewarding, and as volunteers, we have all had enjoyment and many laughs. For anyone who gets the opportunity - go for it! Stephen Alford |
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"This is our second year as volunteers in the 'Time to Compute' scheme at Elmgrove Primary School, and we have enjoyed our 1-hour weekly session with the children very much. It has been great meeting Graeme, the Headmaster, teachers, and the children and their families and very rewarding to see the children develop in their IT skills and communication skills.
The school grounds provided an excellent location for this year's '4 seasons' theme. The children took photos of trees to present and compare their findings in a PowerPoint presentation.
All 3 of us work in the IT department in Bombardier Aerospace Shorts, and the Company kindly agreed to further help the school by donating 10 computers to the 'Time to Compute' initiative. With these computers, we were able to equip a separate computer room in Elmgrove Primary.
We would recommend others to get involved in this very worthy and rewarding scheme."
Dorothy Ireland, Philip Moffett and Gerry Starrs
(Bombardier Aerospace Shorts)
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I got involved with Time to Compute when an email was sent from Fujitsu HR looking for volunteers to take part in the scheme. I went along to the meeting out of curiosity and to find out what was involved. We were given a presentation of the software available; explanations of the commitment expected and informed that Fujitsu would support their staff to volunteer for one hour per week at a local primary school nominated by Business in the Community. The scheme involves working alongside Key Stage 2 children (8 - 10 year olds) to provide an insight into the business world, motivate and develop children academically and socially, introduce children to a positive role model from the world of work and help children work on a one to one basis improving communication skills. |
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Being from East Belfast and having attended school in the area, I was delighted to have the opportunity and hoped in some way, maybe to make a difference. I completed the appropriate forms and was delighted to hear a few months later that I had been accepted and would be starting at Avoniel Primary School in September 2004. I and my two colleagues, Roy and Clare work at different locations within Fujitsu. We meet at school every Thursday during term time at 9:30 and work on a one-to-one basis for 30mins with each child. The children have used various software packages provided by the school to improve reading writing and maths; they have completed presentations on PowerPoint, improved keyboarding skills, helped with posters etc for school events. We have built great friendships and had plenty of fun along the way. Needless to say the hour passes too quickly. The last 3 years have been personally rewarding. As a group we have all had enjoyment and many laughs. On more than one occasion, I have arrived early at work on many Thursdays to find my email box overloaded with requests and have thought "I could do without going today", but the thought of letting the team down and knowing the children get disappointed when their computer buddy doesn't arrive gets me on my way. After all, it's only 1 hour per week. For anyone who gets the opportunity—go for it Jennifer Foster, Fujitsu |
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