A high-tech studio for young people will open in South Dunedin next year as part of a free after-school learning programme.
The High Tech Youth Network Trust was granted $1.9 million from the Government's community and volunteer sector to spend over the next three years across seven centres nationwide.
Part of this budget will be spent on opening a South Dunedin branch for children who do not have access to computers or other technology after school.
Trust chief executive Mike Usmar said the studio would run sessions between 3pm and 7pm.
The studios were targeted at ''under-valued communities'' and helped children learn project management and technical skills such as computer game design, electronic publishing, Photoshop, animation, and 3-D graphic design.
Some sites also provided free wireless internet connection to the surrounding community.
The location had not yet been decided, Mr Usmar said.
It is one of two studios opening. The other is in Penrose, Auckland.
Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew said the initiative was to build on young people's creativity and confidence with technology.
High-tech youth studios are located in Otara, West Auckland, Hamilton, Whakatane and Hutt City.
A site in Northland is also under development.
The South Dunedin studio would cater for 20 to 30 children at a time and sessions would run for about two hours each, Mr Usmar said.
Volunteer mentors would take children through the programmes. South Dunedin was chosen by the trust after the Dunedin City Council and several schools in the community put in a proposal 15 months ago.
The trust is a non-profit organisation and is funded by sponsors.
