There was musical entertainment from a Congalese trio and delicious catering provided by Bethany J Fellow.

A presentation was made by Asghar Hussaini and Keaton Okkenon about the Intel Computer Clubhouse Teen Summit they attended in Boston in August.

At the showcase visitors saw many projects of the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse. Some of them were:

A hurdle game created by Asghar at a workshop  called “scratchlympics” at the Teen Summit  run by Amon, an MIT masters students. The hurdle has a light sensor to detect when the player jumps over it. If the player times it well, he will clear the hurdle.

Posters designed on programs including; photoshop, illustrator, Painter 7.

There was a display of videos that have been created recently using bluescreening. Using Kahootz animations as backgrounds, members have been placing themselves underwater, in the sky as well as dancing with aliens!

A workstation area was also set up for members to show parents and visitors their creations that may not have been on display.

The night was great fun with a fantastic turnout. See some more photos that were taken on the night on our flickr page.

Many Thanks to all the helping hands, impromtu guides and visitors on the night.
Thanks to our photographer on the night, Lee Sandwith (mentor)

Magan is a fantastic ambassador for the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse. If you attended our Fitzroy Learning Network ball or the opening of our new Clubhouse facilities in 2007 you would have heard him speak about his Clubhouse experiences.
We are very pleased that he is continuing his contribution to the Clubhouse and it’s members by volunteering as a Mentor.
Read Magan’s Story.

News includes Teen Summit 2008, Poster Competition and a profile on one of our alumni who is now a volunteer mentor.

Download it here.

We’re fundraising to send our three Teen Leaders to the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network Teen Summit and need YOUR help!

Tickets are $2 each or $5 for three. And the prizes are great!
Visit the Fitzroy Learning Network or Contact Tara- tara@fitzroylearningnetwork.org.au ph:94172897 for information on how to buy the tickets.

1st Prize- Kodak M833 zoom digital camera, Kodak ES 5300 inkjet printer, Kodak 2GB High Speed SD card Total Value: $600
2nd Prize- Kinesiology or Reiki session to the value of $100
3rd prize - Targus laptop bag with assorted goodies including Greg Norman “Shark” Leather Wallet and DVDs
Drawn 25th July 2008

The Intel Computer Clubhouse Teen Summit has been generously funded by Intel and partners of the Intel Computer Clubhouse, however there are some extra costs we need to fundraise for before our departure.
The Teen Summit is an opportunity for the leasers of the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse to travel to Boston, USA to learn new skills, share ideas and collaborate with people from different cultures.
In Boston, Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse members Misgana, Asghar and Keaton will meet over 150 other Computer Clubhouse Youth from Clubhouses around the world bringing back ideas, skills and increased leadership and teamwork skills to benefit all Clubhouse members.

Please support our members in this once in a lifetime opportunity by buying some raffle tickets. if you would like to ake a donation, all donations to the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse are fully tax-deductible please contact Tara for more information.

These three teens will represent a diverse Australia. All proud Australian Citizens, these members were each born in a different country, and combined, speak 4 languages fluently.

The Fitzroy teens were chosen by their Clubhouse Coordinator and Volunteer Mentors based on outstanding leadership skills, technical and creative ability, and contributions to the community. Attendees are Asghar Hussaini, 15, Misgana Yohannes, 13 and Keaton Okkonen, 13.

“The goal of the Teen Summit is to inspire Computer Clubhouse youth not only to build hands-on fluency in technology but also to become self-motivated, confident learners through collaborative experiences that spark their interest, expand life skills, and help them become global citizens,” said Tara Willersdorf, Computer Clubhouse Coordinator, “I am confident that as well as making the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity, our three members will continue to contribute to the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse as leaders on their return.”

As part of their preparation for the Teen Summit, participants are working on their leadership skills whilst giving back to their community by planning and running school holiday workshops for City of Yarra Vacation Care participants over two days.

These youth leaders from underserved communities worldwide will use their technology skills and imagination to create solutions for issues faced by their communities. From nearby New Zealand and as far away as Russia, Denmark, Israel and Brazil, young people, ages 13 to 18, will work together to address socially conscious challenges such as embracing diversity within different cultures and improving the environment.

Attending Members
Misgana Yohannes, 13 – Misgana arrived in Australia with her family in 2001 from Sudan. She has been a member of the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse for 4 years and is currently attending Melbourne Girls College. Misgana is continuing family tradition by attending the Teen Summit as her brother Abe, was chosen to attend in 2006. When asked how she thinks she makes a good leader, Misgana replied, “When I’m in a leadership role I feel that it’s important to make fair decisions and to be flexible. Sometimes it’s hard being a leader but I stay strong and never give up!”

Asghar Hussaini, 15 – Born in Afghanistan, Asghar has been a Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse member for just over 12 months but is already a leader amongst his peers. Asghar is a leader and advocate outside the Computer Clubhouse also. He is currently on the committee for the Youth Services Expo, which has a budget of $30,000 over three years. Asghar attended the Computelec ELH conference in 2007 where he met with vendors and educators from around Australia to talk about the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse. Asghar says “I am really thankful for this opportunity, I will make the most out of the Teen Summit and come back and share the experience with others.

Keaton Okkonen, 13 – Keaton has been attending the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse for 4 years. Mature and inclusive of all members, the Clubhouse Coordinator and mentors were very impressed when he submitted a video of a remote control robot in his application to apply for the Teen Summit – two projects in one. Keaton planned and ran a course in making Lego Robotics at the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse in City of Yarra Vacation Care. The Computer Clubhouse has helped Keaton as he works to achieve his future goals, “Although I am young, I hope the Teen Summit will help kick start a potential career in IT.”

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The Intel Computer Clubhouse Network (ICCN) Annual conference is a valuable and unique opportunity for coordinators and Community Based Organisation (CBO) representatives to gather with Computer Clubhouse Network staff along with staff from MIT Media Lab, Intel Foundation, Adobe, SRI International (not-for-profit research organisation) and Education Development Centre to name a few.

The Annual Conference was an invaluable experience in order to successfully plan and implement the ongoing development of the Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse. It is a unique time when Coordinators from clubhouses around the world can get together to do software and project workshops, share ideas, troubleshoot challenges, offer solutions and provide support.

Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse Coordinator Tara Willersdorf with Director of the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network, Gail Breslow and Intel Manager, Peter Broffman.

“Demonstrating the power of technology to engage middle- and high-school-age youth, Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) provides breakthrough learning experiences using video, multimedia, digital art, web, animation, and audio tools that enable youth to explore and comment on their world.”

Working with the model, “create with purpose” The Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse will commence the Adobe Youth Voices program this week. In the next 12 months, members will meet once a week to create media which comments on topics and issues important to them.

The Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse is very pleased to be associated with Adobe in this venture. As an Adobe Youth Voices site, The Fitzroy Computer Clubhouse is now the proud owner of 15 Adobe CS3 Production Premium Licenses which includes Adobe Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop and more.

Our New Zealand neighbours, Clubhouse 274 have also become and AYV site and we look forward to collaborating and sharing projects in the next 12 months.

For more information about Adobe Youth Voices, visit their website.

It was very interesting to learn that some of the programs we use at the Clubhouse were also being used at the Software company. Members learnt some new tricks in flash and weren’t shy teaching the resident New Media Manager some of their knowledge as well.

We were all treated to a delicious halal BBQ and left with some very motivated members to keep on working on their flash and web creations as they were reminded on how the software they use and the skills they learn in the Clubhouse can relate to the outside world.

It was a fantastic visit and we look forward to doing some more Clubhouse to Career (C2C) visits in the next Term.