Community Work

In recognising the importance of improving the level of education in society, Birchfield endeavours to use its expertise and technologies to benefit the community, whether locally or internationally.

Local/National Community Work

Work in Youth Groups and After-school Clubs

On a local scale, Birchfield's total commitment to social responsibility is demonstrated by its efforts to promote the use of ICT in education within youth clubs and for after school events.

The company's youth club initiative aims to increase knowledge and experience of ICT in all subjects through the donation of software to youth groups and childrens' activity clubs across Wales. In addition, Birchfield has forged partnerships with education community centres and other establishments to ensure that its resources have a significant impact in facilitating the use of ICT within education.

Work in Local Schools

James Barry, a Senior Programmer at Birchfield Interactive, has spent time working with a group of Welsh primary school pupils creating 3-D computer games.

Ton Yr Ywen Primary School in Cardiff opened its doors to James and Birchfield's technology for a week allowing pupils across the school to get creative with computers.

Children were asked to design their own 3-D mazes centred on any theme that they wished. An abundance of imaginative mazes were drawn by the children who were aged between seven and eleven years old. Designs included: ghost trails, football, farms, animals and even TV programmes.

James utilised Birchfield's technology to turn a selection of these mazes into real-life computer games. Pupils were set the task of creating characters, writing instructions and recording their own narration. Their efforts culminated in personalised 3-D mazes for all the children to enjoy.

The scheme was part of the Big Arts week, a charity initiative by Timebank and The Forward Arts Foundation. The aim of the programme is to expand the level of art in schools with the help of professionals. James and Birchfield's key involvement in this initiative has allowed many pupils to develop their creative side, proving how much fun art and technology can be.

David Griffiths, Ton Yr Ywen Primary School's Deputy Head Teacher, said "Working with an initiative like the Big Arts Week is invaluable for the school. We all want to say a great big thanks to James for all the time and effort he has put in here at the school. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience".

   

International Community Work

Work in East-Central Africa

Internationally, Birchfield is playing a leading role in The Rwanda Alliance for Primary Education Computerisation. The alliance aims to provide educational support to the 1.5 million school age children across Rwanda, many of whom do not enjoy access to an education. Working alongside the likes of Microsoft, ComputerAid International and World Links, Birchfield has contributed over $2.5 million worth of Ace Monkey software to the scheme.

Over 50% of children in post-genocide Rwanda are not enrolled in school and those that do attend receive only a basic education. There is very little financial support available for books, resources and computers, making the Rwanda Alliance an essential source of aid for the children of Rwanda. The scheme aims to increase the number of children attending school and allow them to develop basic computer literacy. They hope to equip 1,170 schools with computer equipment and software, ensuring that Birchfield's software will be at the forefront of delivering effective teaching to future generations.

Birchfield is proud of the involvement in the scheme and hope that the software provided to the country will allow Rwanda's children to enjoy a vastly improved education and school life.

Work in Europe

Birchfield has spent time visiting schools across Europe to help create the new Modern Foreign Language software range.

Links have been established between Birchfield and schools in Lille, Barcelona and Cologne who are all helping Birchfield gain a real understanding of their country, language and culture, working closely with a group of enthusiastic teachers and an even bigger collection of students.

Recent trips to the schools have allowed Birchfield to capture a diverse range of video footage and photos of not only the European cities but also the students reading dialogues and completing traditional scenarios and role plays. It is hoped that these videos and sound clips will provide an invaluable resource for teaching languages to students in the UK.

Birchfield would like to thank all the teachers and students involved from Lyceé Marguerite de Flandre in Lille, IES La Vall del Tenes in Granollers near Barcelona and Ober-Hahn Gymnasium in Dinslaken near Cologne.