Genesis School-gen Trust announces first recipients of solar and STEM equipment packages
To enable more Kiwi kids to become future inventors and innovators, the Genesis School-gen Trust has announced that six
schools will receive STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) equipment packages and one school a solar
equipment package from its initial pool of $50,000.
The Trust is a new charity that provides schools with solar, science, technology, engineering and math equipment to help
rangatahi (young people) solve real-world problems.
More than 400 schools, including primary, intermediate and secondary schools from Northland to Southland applied for
funding.
The first school recipients were selected based on their desire to shift students from being consumers of technology to
creators, the potential to involve the wider community in the learning journey and the intention to engage students in
real-world problem solving.
In alphabetical order, the schools are:
• Bradford School, Otago
•
• Corinna School, Wellington
•
• Manurewa South, Auckland
•
• Maungatapu School, Bay of Plenty
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• Otamatea High School, Northland (solar)
•
• Pukenui School (Houhora), Northland
•
• Tamatea High School, Hawkes Bay
Otamatea High School will use its solar equipment package in conjunction with the Genesis School-gen educational
resources and integrate the learnings across as many subject areas as possible.
Equipment provided to the other six schools includes electronic devices such as laptops, Chrome books and iPads as well
as coding and robotics equipment. Science equipment packs cover chemistry, physics and biology.
Genesis School-gen Trust Chair, Lee Mauger, said the level of interest in the Trust far exceeded expectations. “We knew
some schools needed support for their science, technology, engineering and math teaching plans, which is why we set up
the Genesis School-gen Trust. However, we were overwhelmed by the number of schools demonstrating real and pressing
needs. We are delighted to have started to address this by helping seven schools in this first round of funding, and
would like to recognise Genesis’ ongoing support, which will allow us to open another round of funding applications on 1
July 2019."
The Genesis School-gen Trustees, including education, IT and energy-generation experts, determined which schools receive
equipment packages.
Genesis contributed $50,000 towards the first funding round and from August, will be inviting customers to donate to the
charity by adding a small amount to their monthly energy bill. In addition, Genesis covers all administration costs so
that 100% of donations go to schools for equipment.
Genesis CEO Marc England says that by enabling young New Zealanders to access classroom equipment and solar panels the
Trust is ensuring more school-aged students have opportunities to examine and find solutions for real-world problems.
“This programme will eventually benefit all of us,” says Marc. “It’s not just for Kiwi kids today, but for the future of
work that they’ll help make a reality. Increasingly, science, maths, engineering and technology skills are in demand and
as an organisation that relies on these skills, we know how vital they are to our future. The same is true across New
Zealand if we are to manage through the increased level of automation coming into the workplace, sometimes known as the
4th industrial revolution, our children will need the skills to adapt to jobs that don’t exist today. STEM skills will
make a difference to all our futures.”
More about the Genesis School-gen Trust:
More about School-gen:
School-Gen, Genesis’ long-standing community investment programme, continues to provide STEM games, support and
resources for teachers and parents. More information can be found here: https://www.schoolgen.co.nz/about/
ends