
2 students in paid internships – May 2025
Hope IT connected with two students in the last 4 months, for the WordPress course, as well as paid internships. We also have another course coming up in June. Below is some of the highlights.
Websites are fundamental, the base of other technologies. This does not seem cutting-edge these days. But all industries like banking, air traffic control, sports and so many others are built on websites. But how about underserved high school students gaining skills to create their own websites, and then getting paid for using those skills, to help faith-based groups? That is what Hope IT is all about.
WordPress course in February:
- We had 2 students for the Door of Hope for the on-line WordPress course.
- They learned to edit text, add pictures and videos, and also use the vast number of pre-created web pages from the Astra theme. When combined, these simple skills allow students to control the content and appearance of the web site. The 2 pictures above and below show the student’s web pages they created.
- WordPress is very powerful, and there are already a large number of free tools to just add to, style, and add functionality to your website. These are called plugins, and the students added plugins to easily shape their web pages, track visitors, edit what visitors see in search pages for their web pages, and learn how to backup their websites.
- WordPress is used in more than 40% of all websites!! That half a billion websites..and potential customers. If you know how to use WordPress, you can change many websites!
- Hope IT was able to provide each student with their own website. This gives them the hands-on practice and experience to realize they can really create, manage, and maintain a website. At the end of the course, they created their own blog.
- The Scriptural reflection was around the Word of God, as we focused on expressing our ideas using WordPress. This allows us to know God’s creative power in creation, God’s speaking to young people like Samuel, and speaking to the prophets like Jeremiah and Johan, to care for people.
Paid Internships:
What comes out of the WordPress course is a natural progression of getting paid to use those skills. Shortly after the WordPress course, the internship was in April. This was the first time Hope IT had 2 students in internships. This was a stretching experience for the students, as the work was for real organizations.
- Partners
- BridgesUS has been an internship partner for a second year now. It worked out well for them, as they were going through many changes with their website, so they needed the help.
- Hope IT has another new partner – CHOA (Creative Housing Options in Arcadia). This is a volunteer group in Arcadia, advocating for housing, and they need help in their blog, keeping up their email blasts.
- The Door of Hope was the partner in on-boarding and paying the students. Naturally, as the students are from the Door of Hope network, having the Door of Hope on-board them, and for the students to use their pay check system was helpful, as there was already a lot of trust between the non-profit and the family.
- Knox Presbyterian church financially supports Hope IT, so funds are available for Hope IT to fund these internships. Students get paid using skills they learn.
- Pre-internship steps:
- The students obtained the required work permits from their school
- The students had to fill out an on-line application, having them express their interest in the internship, and confirming they understand the sacrifices and responsibility required.
- Lastly, the students went through an interview, verbally communicating their thoughts on why they wanted to take on the internship, and answer questions on possible challenges they may face.
- Internship
- The students were paid $17.50 per hour, and worked up to 20 hours over 4 weeks, averaging 5 hours per week.
- They worked remotely, and received assignments both through meetings with their intern manager, as well as via email. The interns had to show up on time for meetings, and communicate to their managers on progress of assignments, and any questions they had.
- Hope IT also scheduled weekly check-ins with them, to handle any questions or misunderstandings that may occur. The goal is to assure they are successful in the internship.
Hope IT is grateful the internship worked well. There was a lot of coordination on the Hope IT team side.
June course – Solving Mazes with the Python programming language:
In June, Hope IT is offering our Python programming course, having students help a virtual robot solve mazes…getting better each week. This is an in-person course at Knox Presbyterian Church, and Hope IT is recruiting students at this time. The Python language is used so widely (and not taught much in high schools), so this is a key time for students to use this multi-purpose language.
Hope IT is grateful to work with underserved students, and see how they gain skills, confidence, and even see glimpses of God’s love.
God bless.
Peace,
–Mike Veerman
Hope IT team lead
