Inspired to answer that age-old question children tend to ask their parents -- "What do you do at your job?" -- The PepsiCo team held the first-ever Kids Technology Workshop at the Carrigaline Plant. The aim of this one-day event was to introduce IT skills and real-life experience to their children in a simple format.
Cathal O’Regan, Kids Technology Workshop designer said “In PepsiCo Worldwide Flavours we are lucky to have a highly skilled and motivated workforce, a workforce with a wide range of specialized experienced IT professionals. My goal for these workshops is to use our customized training plans, developed so our younger generation can relate to and enjoy, to inspire, teach and demonstrate how technology and it’s day to day use can be both fun and educational.”
Denis Collins, Chairman of the Board it@cork said “The Adopt –a- School programme is designed to enable industry and education to team effectively. We have 30 schools adopted to date and will continue to drive this valuable programme. The model with PepsiCo is a perfect example of how industry and academia can get together for our future. I’m excited about this particular model with PepsiCo and how will we replicate it in other schools. We encourage other companies to get involved and help make a difference”.
“The PepsiCo Kids Technology Workshops are not only good clean fun for our employees’ children, they’re educational and inspiring,” said Tom Moore, PepsiCo CTO. “This is a great way to expose our future generations to the value information technology brings to industry, and it might even be a first step in launching some careers!”
The four workshops were well received by the children and their parents. This premiere is the first of a global initiative with 11 other PepsiCo workshops worldwide in the pipeline.
Cathal O’Regan, PepsiCo workshop designer will package the workshops and deliver to 5 schools this year, the first of which was held in PepsiCo’s adopted school, Scoil Mhuire Na nGrást, Belgooly on Wednesday the 6th March 2013.Speaking at the workshop Cathal said “In PepsiCo Worldwide Flavours we are lucky to have a highly skilled and motivated workforce, a workforce with a wide range of specialized experienced IT professionals. My goal for these workshops is to use our customized training plans, developed so our younger generation can relate to and enjoy, to inspire, teach and demonstrate how technology and its day to day use can be both fun and educational.”
“Having the opportunity to avail of such a broad level of IT expertise, will, undoubtedly, prompt an increased interest and provide a broader knowledge in this important area for our pupils,” said Diarmuid Hennessy School Principal Scoil Mhuire na nGrást. “In addition, our joint efforts - as a school and business - in exploring, planning, organising and facilitating various initiatives have presented unique personal/professional development opportunities for all involved.”
The Workshops themes comprised the following:
Workshop 1 – Website Design / Computer Programming – Basic computer programming concepts are introduced, leading participants to create their first web page.
Workshop 2 – Computer Hardware – This hands-on workshop uses computer hardware and peripherals to enable the kids to assemble their first computer.
Workshop 3 – Network Connectivity and Internet – This workshop focuses on explaining how computers are connected and “talks” to one another, and uses fun props such as balls of wool and plastic pipes to explain the difference between wired and wireless networks.
Workshop 4 - Apple iPads, iPhones and Apps – Recognising that the iPad and iPhone have the potential to revolutionize the way children learn allowing them to test drive iPads, iPhones and various applications. Products on display demonstrated some of the best applications and technology available from Apple.
Workshop coordinators and volunteers on the day included PepsiCo employees Cathal O’Regan, Richard Walsh, Elaine Sheehan, Patricia Lane, Sinead Sheehan, Mike Spillane, David O’Sullivan, Fergus O’Mullane, Eoin O’Driscoll, John O’Dwyer, Gary Cronin and Rory Gaynor.
