Digital Natives Academy, a non-profit, was established in 2014 to encourage young people wanting to enter the digital tech industry the power to create, transform, shape and develop their own digital tools.
DNA was the first organisation of it’s kind in Aotearoa New Zealand seeking to use gaming to help build pathways into the digital and creative tech industries.
DNA’s vision is to inspire the next generation of digital leaders.
DNA does this through four key pou; animation, content creation, wellbeing and esports. Their foundation is based on a Te Ao Māori worldview and they provide Kaupapa Māori and Matauranga Māori programme delivery.
Their goal is to create career pathways for young people who don’t have access to technology. DNA does this to inspire them to become makers and innovators of technology, rather than users and consumers of it.
In 2019 DNA, developed the first Digital Wellbeing programme for schools called, Te Iwi Matihiko™.
Te Iwi Matihiko™ is a values-based approach to digital wellbeing that seeks to raise awareness while helping to guide, students, their families, teachers and schools to better navigate digital spaces with a focus on social media and esports/gaming.
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