Akaku Maui Community Media’s youth programs recently received $9,000 in funds from the County Office of Economic Development, SunEdison and the Andrew S. Colburn Foundation. The money supports Akaku’s Youth Broadband Education Awareness Mentoring (YBEAM) and Akaku Youth Media Exchange (AYME) programs.
The Maui County Office of Economic Development granted $3,000 for the AYME program to support youth productions on small businesses on Maui and Molokai. AYME offers real work opportunities for YBEAM alumni with professional mentorship. Eight small businesses will receive video services from AYME producers to highlight their business through Akaku television and the internet.
SunEdison, which operates the Kaheawa Wind Project on Maui, gifted $1,000 in support of Project YBEAM, which is a 30-hour mobile production training program for youth. “It has been uplifting to learn about this project,” said Carolyn Unser, Community Outreach Coordinator for SunEdison. “We strive to be a positive member of the community. We thank Akaku members for providing important services for the community.” Akaku also received a private donation of $5,000 from the Andrew S. Colburn Foundation in support of Project YBEAM and the AYME program.
“We sincerely value this support and appreciate these funders appreciation and faith in the good our programs bring, both to the participants and to the greater Maui community,” said Kat Tracy, Akaku Education and YBEAM Director.
Akaku’s YBEAM program teaches Maui county youth how to produce short community stories using broadband technology in an all-mobile environment. Participants shoot, edit and distribute their content using Apple iPod Touches. The AYME program allows certified graduates one on one professional mentoring and paid job opportunities.
Youth produced stories air on cable channel 55 and on Mauitube.org. YBEAM is free and is currently recruiting for summer. Applications are available at Ybeam.mauitube.org.
Photo courtesy of Akaku Maui Community Media
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