The team behind business support forum Manaaki.io is launching The Digital Doers Academy to help job seekers in Aotearoa, and particularly in places like Whaingaroa-Raglan, build their digital capability.
The Digital Doers Academy pilot programme, funded by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), aims to offset the negative impact of COVID19 by training participants to become digital and social media advisors – who can then support themselves and the business community as independent contractors or employees.
Manaaki.io Co-founder Pat Macfie (Ngāti Māhanga-Hourua, Ngāi Te Rangi), said his team created Digital Doers in response to the nationwide cry for digital help from businesses following the COVID19 lockdown.
“In 2021 every business needs a digital doer. This programme is a way for people who may have been displaced from work, to go from job seeker to making a real impact in helping Kiwi businesses – in a few short months.”
“So long as you have the fundamentals of digital understanding and the willingness to learn, Digital Doers can help you to put your best foot forward in a digital role.”
“This is a chance to get some independence and self-determination back. And, with your new capability, be at the heart of the changing environment for businesses in Aotearoa.”
Starting in 2021, the twenty-week programme consists of twelve weeks of online learning, followed by an eight-week business internship alongside leading Kiwi innovators.
While the programme has the scaling potential to be available to a large group of job seekers, the pilot, running from March, will offer 25 places to Kiwis from diverse backgrounds who are already receiving MSD benefits, or are disadvantaged in the job market.
“Digital media creates endless opportunities. If we can pass on our mātauranga in this area especially to members of our Māori and Pasifika community who are struggling, the world could be their oyster.”
“We hope the Digital Doers Academy sends a message of hope and opportunity – and ultimately transforms lives. We can’t wait to get started. Let’s go.”
Recently appointed General Manager at Manaaki.io and local Raglan gal Rachel Adams said,
“Growing up in a small town, with a big family and very little money, I had no idea what I wanted to do or what opportunities were out there.”
“At most schools you are told about a handful of career opportunities and you think that’s it. We are shaking shit up Aotearoa! At Manaaki we’ve just launched the Digital Doers Academy to train up the next generation of digitally savvy legends!”
“This first programme is focused on providing people who are on a job seeker benefit to learn the skills then link them directly to digital jobs. I’m especially keen to find people in rural towns who don’t naturally have a lot of job opportunities.”
Each module for the Digital Doers programme will have a video-based lesson, quizzes, a live webinar with an industry expert, and exercises that will be assessed by the programme manager and submitted for peer review.
Local or remote internships will take place in small businesses that may be part of the Manaaki and Chooice ecosystem. Interns will likely be exposed to multiple projects, and each will receive and provide constructive feedback and guidance throughout the internship.
Applications close on February 15, 2021 so visit the website to apply today: https://www.manaaki.io/digitaldoersacademy/
