Distance learning provider wins Vodafone backing

<h2 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Auckland-based Ng&amacr; Rangatahi Toa&comma; an arts-mentoring and transition programme for rangatahi who have been excluded from mainstream education&comma; has won backing from the Vodafone Foundation&period;<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Ng&amacr; Rangatahi Toa uses video-conferencing sessions to provide interactive education and will be able to expand its reach nationwide after being chosen for Vodafone&&num;8217&semi;s Change Accelerator programme&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Another community organisation selected is anti-bullying group&comma; Central Otago’s Sticks n Stones&period; They will take their  work to stop bullying to the next level&comma; to help young people who are based rurally around New Zealand and feel isolated&comma; connect with their peers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Sticks n Stones aims to offer everything from distance learning <a class&equals;"wpil&lowbar;keyword&lowbar;link" href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;schoolnews&period;co&period;nz&sol;2015&sol;10&sol;developing-opportunities-at-school-with-a-view&sol;" title&equals;"opportunities" data-wpil-keyword-link&equals;"linked" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank">opportunities<&sol;a>&comma; to youth-led supportive communication networks&period;  <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Vodafone New Zealand Foundation chair Antony Welton said technology has a big part to play in levelling the playing field for excluded and disadvantaged young people&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;We are committed to using technology for good&comma; we know that online platforms and apps can create positive social change&comma; and we’re excited to help these amazing community organisations take great ideas and turn them into reality&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Each of these projects has the power to change the lives of a vast number of young people living in Aotearoa today&period; We’ll provide funding&comma; mentoring&comma; and technology experts to help breathe life into their ideas&comma; and we know our community partners are prepared to roll their sleeves up to make it happen&comma;” says Mr Antony&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Each of the participating community organisations will receive grants of &dollar;15&comma;000 to cover their expenses during the six-week Change Accelerator programme based at Vodafone’s Christchurch Innov8 centre&comma; and contribute to their organisation’s kaupapa&period; They will also be invited to apply for the Vodafone Foundation’s Innovation <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;foundation&period;vodafone&period;co&period;nz&sol;our-programmes&sol;" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank"><u>Fund<&sol;u><&sol;a> at the end of the accelerator&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;