Members of Parliament and e-skills UK have launched the 6th year of the Make IT Happy competition.
The competition recognises and rewards the excellent and inspirational work primary schools do with Information Technology (IT), and particularly how they use it to make a positive impact on their own and others’ lives. This year’s Make IT Happy theme of “Make IT Healthy” calls for schools to use IT to improve their own physical, mental or emotional health, or to reach out to help others do the same.
The judges will be looking for entries that show new ways in which pupils have used technology to improve health. Projects could be as simple and local as planning a school vegetable garden online; they could involve using technology to reach out to older people or people with disabilities; or perhaps they could show the emotional benefits of building relationships across national or international boundaries.
£1,200 will be awarded to each of the regional competition finalists, with the overall winning school taking home an additional cash prize of £4,000. Winners will also be invited to attend an awards ceremony to be held at the Houses of Parliament in London in June 2012.
Anne Milton, MP for Guildford, encourages local primary schools to get involved: “It would be great if all of the local primary schools are able to get involved with Make IT Healthy this year. The competition gives schools a chance to make a positive impact on their own and others’ lives, while at the same time increasing their knowledge of IT. The competition is all about giving young people a chance to use their imagination, creativity and technology skills and show how IT can make a difference to their own health and that of others. Get involved if you can. ”
The closing date for entries is April 8, 2012. The competition is run by the Parliamentary Internet Communications and Technology Forum and e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology. It is backed by more than 60 MPs from across the UK.
For further information and details of how to enter, visit the website at http://makeithappy.cc4g.net/