TORONTO, May 1, 2018 /CNW/ – Today, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Barrick Gold Corporation that will support our national digital education program Kid Tech Nation.
Proudly supported by Barrick’s Heart of Gold Fund and developed in collaboration with Canada Learning Code and Corus Entertainment, Kid Tech Nation is a community-based program at Boys and Girls Clubs that introduces children aged 7 – 12 to computational thinking, coding, and communication skills in a fun, beginner-friendly, and collaborative environment.
Kid Tech Nation provides an 8-week digital skills curriculum to be implemented during after-school programming at Boys and Girls Clubs across Canada, covering a range of topics: digital skills, coding concepts, internet safety, computational thinking, and early career awareness. The program will also focus on youth that are typically underrepresented in STEM fields: girls, Indigenous children, newcomer youth, and children living in low-income families. Pilot programs will run at 20 Boys and Girls Clubs throughout 2018.
“We know it’s important to equip Canadian youth with the critical skills they need to navigate the world we live in today and thrive in the future,” said Owen Charters, President & CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. “We are excited to have Barrick join us for this initiative and equip more young Canadians with the in-demand digital literacy and problem-solving skills required for 21st-century careers.”
“Barrick is proud to be partnering with Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada to help engage and empower underrepresented youth to explore the possibilities of computer science in a fun and positive way,” said Peter Sinclair, Chief Sustainability Officer, Barrick. “At Barrick we believe it is only when we work together that we can develop the citizens, innovators, and leaders needed to advance us towards a brighter future.”
Executives and staff from Barrick and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada joined David Lametti, Member of Parliament for LaSalle-Émard-Verdun, at the Dawson Boys and Girls Club in Montreal on April 28 to celebrate Kid Tech Nation and the launch of this exciting partnership.
About Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
As Canada’s largest child- and youth-serving organization, Boys and Girls Clubs provide vital programs and services to over 200,000 young people in nearly 700 communities across Canada. During critical out-of-school hours, our Clubs offer safe spaces where young people can explore their interests, develop their strengths, and realize positive outcomes in self-expression, academics, healthy living, physical activity, mental health, and more. Our trained staff and volunteers help young people build the confidence and sense of belonging they need to overcome barriers, form positive relationships and mature into responsible, caring adults. Visit www.bgccan.com to learn more and follow us at www.facebook.com/bgccan and www.twitter.com/bgccan.
About Barrick
Our vision is the generation of wealth through responsible mining—wealth for our owners, our people, and the countries and communities with which we partner. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Toronto, Barrick has more than 10,000 employees, with mining operations and projects in 10 countries.
SOURCE Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
CONTACT: Media contacts: Jared Morrow, Media Relations Manager, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, 905.477.7272 x202, jmorrow@bgccan.com, Andy Lloyd, Senior Vice President Communications, Barrick, +1 416 307-7414, alloyd@barrick.com
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