An AOL-sponsored course to teach basic Web design to London's
disadvantaged youth is set to expand.Internet service provider AOL
is supporting the expansion of a scheme to teach disadvantaged
young people the basics of Web design, writes Nadia Damon
AOL, which houses a full-time community investment team at its UK
headquarters in Hammersmith, London, is looking to encourage more
young people to learn about work and the Internet through the
Fairbridge youth development charity.
The ISP was first approached by Fairbridge following a speech made
by Katrina Giles, AOL's head of corporate responsibility, at a
charity fair last year. "They asked if we'd be interested in
working with them," explains Giles. "They wanted to do a course and
this area had been requested by the young people."
It was agreed that a pilot course would be set up, with AOL
providing the funding for the hardware and sponsored AOL accounts.
The company also helped Fairbridge to devise the course content.
The pilot course was delivered by an external trainer brought in by
Fairbridge at the charity's base in Kennington. As well as skills
and training - which included an introduction to the Internet -
Fairbridge also provided course members with personal support to
give them confidence in their new found skills.
Attendees were taught in groups of six to eight people. The course
was run one afternoon a week for 16 weeks. AOL staff attended some
classes and provided one-to-one sessions. The group was also
invited to visit their tutors at work.
"AOL employees decided it would be good for participants to visit
them in their offices," explains Giles. "It was inspiring for the
kids from Fairbridge to see what it was like to work in an
office."
AOL posted some of the Web designs online and staged a graduation
ceremony after the course was completed.
Due to the success of the pilot scheme, AOL is expanding the course
to two more locations in the UK. At least six courses will be held
this year, four in London and two at other locations. Each course
will last 12 days over six weeks and be available to about 30
participants, five on each course.
Project benefits
- Motivates people and introduces them to an activity they
enjoy
- Enables students to develop a belief in their own
potential
- Offers transferable skills relevant to Web design
environment
- Students were given the opportunity to visit a working
office.