High Trees to Help Even More Young People Gain Employment as “Apps for Good” Course Returns to Tulse Hill

LONDON, November 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Facebook and CDI Apps for Good have teamed up to offer young, unemployed 16-24 year olds from across London the chance to learn how to design, code and build social applications via a unique training course at High Trees Community Development Trust in Tulse Hill.

Gintare Žitkeviciute is a previous graduate of the Apps for Good course and discovered the course being advertised whilst walking down the street locally in Tulse Hill. She had no previous experience or knowledge of coding, but was interested in learning about it and the opportunities that it could present.

"High Trees' Apps for Good course was my first introduction to basics of CSS and HTML," she says. "I was always interested in the technology industry so it gave me an opportunity to play more with it.

"I really enjoyed the sessions where we had an opportunity to meet industry professionals and ask questions. It helped me to understand which path I would love to take in the future. Also, through Apps for Good I was invited to Freeformers tech bootcamp where I finished my first app http://www.picturetells.us. It helped me to meet even more people and get a new job with Freeformers.

"High Trees creates an atmosphere for local people to meet each other and learn new skills. I lived nearby Tulse Hill when I did the course and was really amazed to meet senior citizens who also were on technology courses in the same community centre. It made me feel really good and I enjoyed sharing experience with them."

The community involvement of High Trees constantly creates new opportunities for local people. Besides teaching young people the new skills that can lead to previously impossible-seeming employment opportunities, High Trees has a hugely positive effect on the lives of many local people.

"High Trees was the first community organisation in the UK to partner with CDI to pilot Apps for Good and we saw the course do great things for young people," says Margaret Jarrett, Director of High Trees Community Development Trust.

"We are very excited to be working with CDI again and, of course, with Facebook.  We are passionate about helping young people to realise their potential and are determined that the young people we work with get the best possible opportunities.  We anticipate that the Facebook-Apps for Good course will deliver exciting opportunities for young people and the community."

The next course, completely free of charge to 16-24 year olds, will be starting in the New Year and if you're interested in participating in the course or simply wish to find out more, you can register with High Trees now. Spaces are strictly limited.

The course is also supported by leading Facebook technology partners, meaning that all the tools are available to learn how to code from scratch and to network with people already in the industry.

To apply for a space on the course, please contact Kyle Gooding at High Trees on +44(0)20-8671-3132 or pop into St Martins Learning Centre, 220 Upper Tulse Hill, London, SW2 2NS

SOURCE High Trees