Poverty was one of the big issues in the 2017 New Zealand election. The Digital Divide Map, a joint project with our strategic partner Internet NZ, shows that there is a strong correlation between social well-being and digital inclusion (measured by access to the internet and digital skills). Our research has shown that digital skills provide a unique stepping stone to escape from poverty by reducing daily costs, improving employment and earning capacity. ... Read more
NetHui is New Zealand’s most diverse and interactive Internet community event – and this year’s conversation promises to be as engaging as ever with a sterling line-up of keynotes, panels and facilitated sessions. We are super excited to support this event as session facilitators and as an InternetNZ strategic partner. We would love you to come and join in the conversation. ... Read more
Laurence Millar, Chair of the 20/20 Trust, expressed his delight at this news. “Computers in Homes has been operating for 17 years and has supported nearly 19,000 families, but we estimate there are still 40,000 households with school-aged children without access to the internet,” he said. “Today’s announcement will help ensure the children in these households are not disadvantaged in their learning, and that the adults have the opportunity to use digital skills in all aspects of their lives.” ... Read more
We note with sadness the death of Michael Gurstein at the age of 73. Michael Gurstein was an inspirational and visionary Canadian, the ‘father’ of Community Informatics, and a friend of the 20/20 Trust and other community organisations all over the world who share the goal of Effective use of the Internet to benefit everyone. ... Read more
Tuesday was the 25th United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – World Poverty Day. In the face of cold damp expensive housing, high poverty rates and steady numbers of people unemployed, digital skills and internet access can seem to be an unaffordable luxury. But they can help, in many ways… ... Read more
Recently 20/20’s Sue West was a guest lecturer for AUT students of Information Security Technologies. Dr William Liu, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader, invited Sue because of her expertise and knowledge of digital inclusion and web security related challenges and opportunities. We share Sue’s top 5 tips for web security. ... Read more
The World Economic Forums The Global Human Capital Report 2017 – Preparing people for the future of work provides a new benchmark for leaders to build the workforces of the future, with score cards for 130 countries researched. Its future focus reinforces the economic and social need for digital literacy and digital inclusion in building human capital. ... Read more
More organisations are signing up to the Digital Inclusion Manifesto. which calls for digital inclusion in all government programmes. 20/20 Trust Chair, Laurence Millar said there is widespread community support for the Manifesto’s goals, but few government-funded programmes specifically address New Zealand’s digital divide. “Our Manifesto calls on government to prioritise digital inclusion and skills… ... Read more
The eDay Trust has produced a manifesto on eWaste, calling upon all political parties to support a sustainable solution. eWaste contains both toxic and valuable material, it is growing into a major problem and initiatives to date have not been sustainable. ... Read more
The 20/20 Trust welcomes ‘literacy in a digital world’ as the focus for UNESCO’s International Literacy Day on 8 September. Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, says digital technologies open vast new opportunities – but can marginalize those who lack essential skills, like literacy, needed to navigate them. “We couldn’t agree more,” said Laurence Millar, Chair of the 20/20 Trust. “This is why we recently released a Digital Inclusion Manifesto … ... Read more
