MyKnowledgeMap
37a Mickelgate, YORK, YO1 6JH
tel 00 44 (0) 1904 466081; fax 00 44 (0) 1904 659465;
web www.myknowledgemap.com
21st March 2007
Support for Africa education from MyKnowledgeMap
York-based learning development specialist MyKnowledgeMap (MKM) has
produced a film on the work of the independent charity, African
Children's Educational Trust (A-CET).
Narrated by acclaimed BBC broadcaster and journalist Martha Kearney,
'Giving Children A Second Thought' highlights how A-CET has helped to
transform the lives of young people in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone by
helping them pursue and continue their education.
The UK-based charity provides financial assistance, scholarships,
clothing, tools and books and works to help local communities build and
equip schools.
MKM is a specialist in the development of bespoke and standard learning
environments and platforms. The company's products range from tools to
build users' own e-learning to custom content for specific lessons or
projects.
The company has been supporting A-CET since 2005 after managing
director Rob Arntsen watched Birhan Woldu, the 'miracle girl' who
defied death in the Great 1984 Ethiopian Famine and A-CET's 'star
student', step on to the stage at the televised Live8 event.
"We were fortunate to find, in A-CET, an organisation of a similar
profile to ours, and a cause related to the field of education," says
Arntsen.
"Corporate social responsibility has always been a core value but is an
aspiration that can be difficult to achieve for a young, busy and
growing company. By focusing on our strengths and what we had to offer,
we established a natural fit with A-CET."
Working through local organisations, A-CET now supports over 2,000
youngsters with scholarships, two rural elementary schools and computer
training centres for girls.
Copies of the DVD-format film are being distributed to donors and used
to support project funding proposals and charity competition entries.
The film is also due to be screened at the Royal Geographical Society
in London and at an International Seminar in Luxembourg of the Global
Issues Network, presented by Sammy Ayalew - one of the many young
Ethiopian youngsters that A-CET has helped to gain an education.
Says A-CET CEO, David Stables: "Since we started operating in Ethiopia,
national attendance at Primary Schools has risen from 25 per cent to
over 60 per cent and we are happy to support the government in this
initiative.
"This has left some primary schools very basic and poorly equipped,
some are just walls and a roof with the children sitting on stones, A-CET
is able to help upgrade these facilities.
"This film is a much welcome tool for communicating our needs and aims.
MyKnowledgeMap is effectively putting us on the map."
Further information at www.myknowledgemap.com and www.a-cet.org.uk
Ends
About MyKnowledgeMap
Founded in 2000, MyKnowledgeMap (often known as MKM) is a dynamic
company delivering web-based knowledge systems designed by individuals,
for the individual.
Operating in the corporate, public and education sectors, MKM's range
of products and services includes:
Academies: MKM is the UK's leading supplier of infrastructure systems
for national skill academies, including those in the UK for food &
drink manufacturing, sport & active leisure, care, and retail. MKM's
e-academy infrastructure helps learners and people with a stake in a
particular skill to progress from entry to degree level. Working with
the UK's national Sector Skills Councils (MKM's clients include
Skillsmart Retail, Improve and SkillsActive), MKM has pioneered online
academies that can help people with everything from day-to-day
productivity to discovering and achieving relevant qualifications. MKM
also offers e-academies tailored to the needs of organisations in the
private and local government sectors.
Skills
diagnostics: MKM's Skills Diagnostic suite allows clients to build
their own system of skills diagnosis and training regimens. Its
sophisticated software tools are designed to meet clients' specific
needs, and to facilitate, not impose, the required solutions.
Learning:
MKM's e-learning solutions, including e-learning content, delivery
systems and teaching aids, are used by a worldwide and growing range of
organisations from Lloyds TSB to the RSPB; from manufacturing to
retailing; from the police to local authorities; from the University of
York to colleges in Delhi, Bahrain and Nairobi. MKM produces inventive
and versatile applications that are can be shaped and contextualised by
their users to meet the rapidly-changing needs of contemporary work and
training, either for use within an e-Academy environment or as
stand-alone products.
Further
Information from:
Rob Arntsen / Tom Holland/ Dawn Ritchie, MyKnowledgeMap 00 44 (0) 1904
466081
Peter Muir / Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR 00 44 (0) 1727 860405
