Hawaii Innovates Using Online Teaching to Employ those Impacted by COVID-19
Most people have been impacted professionally by COVID-19. Many have found themselves out of work, on unemployment or simply struggling to find a job in the same field. This is a story about giving hope to those out of work.
Although most people don’t imagine Hawaii to be a new hub of burgeoning technology professionals, Honolulu is not only a remote vacation destination, it is also a place where work gets done.
Those at Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii (EDAH) had an idea to help those of us impacted by COVID-19 by using funds, with State approval, to build up a technology base of professionals with the aptitude to learn to develop software and obtain employment in a new, needed and state-of-the-art 3D technology field. And this is what they did as part of their “Aloha Connects Innovation” program. You can find out more at: https://www.edahawaii.org/aloha-connects-home
The idea was brilliant. Firstly, they discovered that people with no engineering background whatsoever, are capable of becoming software developers who can learn the C# programming language and Unity. Unity is the most used 3D software engine for games, virtual-reality and alternate-reality in the world.
Applicants began joining with unassuming employment experience, for example, in the hospitality industry. My focus-team group includes bar tenders, restaurant servers, and others with marketing and construction backgrounds.
Secondly, this program that I’m a part of only became possible because EDAH teamed up with GameDevHQ, makers of the world’s only “authorized” certification program to teach Unity. GameDevHQ has trained more than 100,000 new Unity developers. In about 2 months time, participants are creating a real video game they can post online for anyone to play. You can find out more about GameDevHQ at: https://www.gamedevhq.com/
This GameDevHQ & EDAH collaboration under the Aloha Connects Innovation program is remarkable because it:
- employs participants to learn a new skill, while receiving $20/hr and health benefits;
- empowers participants to become productive in a new field, encouraging them to believe in themselves enough to learn new skills;
- prevents participants from becoming depressed, staying home with nothing to do but meet obligations of the unemployment system; and
- begins to grow a technology base of new professionals in the up-and-coming alternative reality industry, applicable in the construction, automotive, aerospace and other industries here in Hawaii; and
- will help to keep people working in Hawaii, and reduce the potential of having to import such professional skill from the mainland, reducing costs and Hawaii’s dependency outside of the state; and
- reduce the number of graduating software engineers of the University of Hawaii from having to leave our state to find employment.
Another fantastic unexpected outcome has been that relationships among participants are becoming established and growing. The Aloha values of love and respect seem to be shared by most involved, resulting in an online community like none other I’ve experienced. Individuals help others become successful within the program.
However, like the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Today is the final day of the program due to a lack of additional CARES funding.
In view of the new $900 billion government stimulus, which unexpectedly was approved yesterday by our President, I am asking all those involved in decision making to extend this program as soon as possible.
I have to thank Jonathan and Al of GameDevHQ, as well as Pono and Alec with EDAH, and all others who have been involved in this program’s funding and administration. And a big shout-out to Jeff, Dan, Joanne and the entire community for making this a fantastic experience in growing my skill-set and employment potential. Mahalo to you all!
