Igniting opportunities for Māori and Pasifika learners
In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly officially made access to technology a human right.
Of course this makes complete sense. So many of our day-to-day activities require technology, whether we’re shopping for groceries online, applying for a job or attending school during lockdown.
Studies conducted in 2021 show declining rates of students enrolling in technology subjects.
Most worrying, however, are the astonishingly low digital skills rates among Māori and Pasifika communities. To date, the Māori population makes up only 4 per cent of the IT workforce, and Pasifika people less than 3 per cent.
These sobering statistics made the social enterprise, TupuToa, decide to take action.
Shake-up time
TupuToa focuses on growing leaders among the Māori and Pasifika communities. Anne Fitisemanu, TupuToa’s Chief Executive, pinpointed what was required: the development of a unique initiative that met Māori and Pasifika communities’ needs in terms of delivery, time and approach. So, Fitisemanu and her team began to co-design a digital upskilling initiative that would provide people with the most sought-after skills.
Next, TupaToa needed to find the best way to reach as many members of the community as possible.
The team used their connections, spreading the news through word-of-mouth, social media and events such as ASB Polyfest – The Auckland Secondary Schools Māori & Pacific Islands Cultural Festival.
TupaToa collaborated with Microsoft to bring the idea to life. Auldhouse was brought in as a leading tech skills training partner of Microsoft. Zeducation was then engaged to tailor the training for a Māori and Pasifika audience.
The result of this collaboration is Hikohiko te Uira, or ‘A Digital Spark for Your Future’, a free program launched in 2021.
A spark grows into a flame
The project required TupaToa to reimagine traditional learning processes, a task that inspired everyone involved.
The tutors included members of the Samoan and Tongan communities, who delivered lessons in native languages. To create a more interactive and engaging learning experience, the tutors placed a big focus on storytelling and group discussions.
Sione Taunga, Alumni Manager at TupuToa, says the program’s success was largely to do with the unique format of the lessons.
“We have an oratory culture where we learn from our elders,” he explains. “This program connected us back to our ancestry in the way it was delivered, but also it made us remember that technology for us is not necessarily new. Our ancestors used similar thinking and practice to navigate their way across the ocean.”
Feedback about Hikohiko te Uira has been overwhelmingly positive, and attendees are now putting their newly acquired skills to work. Whether this is by landing their first digital job, pursuing a management role, or supporting their whānau and church groups, they’re transforming their lives.
Most importantly, the program has empowered everyone involved to recognise what they can achieve with the right support.
A bright future
Microsoft has been a partner of TupuToa for five years. In this time, we have taken on a number of interns who have started their careers with us.
TupuToa has also run cultural competency training for all our New Zealand employees and Australian leadership so we can understand more about Māori and Pasifika culture.
And with Hikohiko te Uira helping to close the digital skills gap, TupuToa is determined to do more.
Future projects include joining forces with new partners Waikato-Tainui Iwi and the Department of Corrections to create digital skills training programs for Iwi members and those in the justice system.
These programs require resources, so to keep the momentum going TupuToa is initiating a scheme to train course trainers. It is also reaching out to communities and institutions to form more partnerships.
With a mission to empower everyone on the planet to achieve more, Microsoft ANZ is proud to partner with TupaToa as it lights the way towards digital skills for all.