Take2 is a social venture dedicated to breaking cycles of crime and intergenerational poverty by giving technology training to people in the justice system and unlocking future employment and career opportunities.
Datacom was the first company in New Zealand to hire a Take2 graduate as an intern and now has three full time staff members who have been through the programme. This year, as a partner, Datacom supported Take2’s expansion into the Mary Wade Correctional Facility in Australia by providing server infrastructure.
In New Zealand, 14 of the programme’s current participants visited the Datacom Auckland office for lunch and a tour, followed by a mini-hackathon session and mock job interviews with Datacom staff. For some of the current Take2 students, it was their first encounter with the job interview process.
The current students also heard from a staff member and Take2 graduate about what it’s like to work in IT and a corporate environment. After more than a year in the job he still pinches himself that he works in tech, he said.
“It’s a little surreal, a happy feeling to know that I’m working towards my career goals, to know that everything is OK and it’s going to be OK, as opposed to wondering what I’m going to do with my life. Now I have some structure and goals. Getting my job was part of it but also thriving and suiting the position as well.”
He began the programme in prison and continued on release, through the Take2 community hub. “I knew I had very few future job options and how it would be with a criminal conviction. When I was in jail, I thought about how I would be in my 30s when I got out and would have nothing to show for myself. I needed to make a life altering decision.
“This gave me the ability to do something. I also like learning things. I didn’t have high hopes, that just comes with the nature of programmes in jail; most of them don’t follow through. But Take2 continued checking in on me and supporting me after I got out. Once the community hub opened, I continued and learned HTML, CSS, Java Script, React and Python.”
He said before Take2 he had a stereotypical view of what working in the corporate world would be like. “But it was a lot more inviting than I thought it would be and there is more interest in employees than I thought there would be. It’s not just people stuck in cubicles all day.”
One of the current students was offered a chance to join the programme while on probation. By an amazing coincidence he had spent most of the previous night researching IT related training courses, he said.
“You have to be on good terms with reporting in. I’d been thinking about how to get my foot in the door for technology. I was probably up until 3 or 4 in the morning looking at all the tech classes and options. I reported to my probation officer the next morning and she asked what experience I had. I said the construction industry and right at the end she asked if I’d be interested in IT. I couldn’t believe it and said yes.”
“We’ve seen through our partnership with Datacom that when industry leaders take the initiative to provide genuine opportunity, they create a blueprint that other organisations can follow.”
- Natalie Howard, Executive Operations Take2
Take2 operations executive Natalie Howard said the programme is valuable because of its ability to tackle multiple societal challenges at once.
It costs $166,000 per year to house keep someone in prison. Around 80% of people who are released do not have a job to go to after release and 58% reoffend within two years. More than 23,000 children have a parent in prison, and they are seven times more likely to end up in prison themselves.
“We know that for justice-impacted people, trying to re-enter the workforce can be hugely challenging. There’s societal stigma around hiring people with criminal convictions, they often have gaps in their employment history and a lack of relevant skills due to time spent in the justice system which makes it hard for them to compete in today’s job market”, said Howard.
She said partnerships with companies like Datacom are vital to Take2’s success.
“We’ve seen through our partnership with Datacom that when industry leaders take the initiative to provide genuine opportunity, they create a blueprint that other organisations can follow.”
Justin Gray, Managing Director of Datacom said, “Our partnership with Take2 has allowed us to provide opportunities for individuals who have turned their lives around. Their unique experiences enrich our diverse team and enhance our workplace culture.
“Together, we’re not just creating jobs; we’re building an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to positive change. We are proud to be a part of their journey and to demonstrate that everyone deserves a chance to succeed.”
