Kelowna

Photo: Contributed - Ricardo Mendes

Hirsoula Simeonidis cuts the ceremonial ribbon at the Rutland Boys and Girls club.

A new technology centre has officially opened at the Rutland Boys and Girls Club that will help support local youth and help them identify and achieve their goals.

The program’s design is to provide young people with the skills, tools, and opportunities that will equip them to excel academically and secure their future success through a National program called ‘Raising the Grade’.

“It’s just such a great opportunity for our kids. We were one of 20 clubs across Canada to have this opportunity to be involved in the program,” says Teresa Murray, area director for central club services.

Raising the Grade is an afterschool program for kids aged 12-19, the only requirement is they must be enrolled in full time school. The program allows youth to explore interests, receive homework support, connect with mentors/tutors, interact with peers, increase their digital literacy, and plan for post-secondary education.

The new lab houses 16 large computers open to members of the club who must commit to attending once per week.

“We’ve benefitted from not only the brand new lab, where we have the opportunity to engage youth and our programs with youth through the technology. We’re also building on our leadership programs – which is an expansion of what we currently do. All of the programs and kids that attend our club get to come up and access the computers," says Tammy Wong, centre director of Rutland Boys and Girls club.

-- With files from Ricardo and Lisa Mendes