Thanks to an $100,000 donation from Google Canada, Toronto high school students living in the Regent Park area will have better access to the technology that's often essential to succeeding in high school and post secondary education.
In a press conference yesterday,
Pathways to Education Regent Park announced that Google Canada will provide funds to outfit a new technology hub and meeting space to be housed at
Daniels Spectrum building located at 585 Dundas Street East.
The new space, named the Pathways to Education Regent Park Digital Bridge, will double as both technological and resource hub as well as meeting place for the program's student participants and educators.
Pathways to Education Canada was launched in 2001 with the goal of reducing high school dropout rates in low-income communities. The same year it launched, Pathways teamed up with the
Regent Park Community Health Centre to bring Pathways programming and resources to the neighbourhood's high school students.
"In our previous space, there was little room for technology or a computer lab as much of Pathways' programming took place in local church basements and schools," stated Sheila Braidek, executive director of the Regent Park Community Health Centre, in a press release. "Now, more than ever, students striving to move from high school to post secondary require access to technology and the many advantages that come with being connected. This new space will provide students with the digital learning aids they will need to persevere."
In addition to providing a space where students can use the technology for independent learning and homework, the new space will also be available for group study and training. A new digital literacy curriculum has been developed by Pathways and will be launched in February 2013.
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Pathways to Education Canada