The Black Eyed Peas frontman has called on unemployed young people to get involved in computing after donating half a million pounds to a kick start a new outreach campaign.
Will.i.am, who announced he was himself taking a computer science course, said he wanted to connect many more disadvantaged youngsters to the worlds of computing, science and technology.
The musician who spoke out after findings from the Prince’s Trust, conducted by Ipsos MORI, revealed a quarter of unemployed young people (24%) ‘dread’ filling in online job applications and one in ten (11%) admit they avoid using computers completely.
Will.i.am has donated £500,000, his fee from appearing on the BBC’s talent show the Voice last year, to the campaign aimed at inspiring and engaging 13 to 19 year olds in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
He said: "Inspiring young people through science and technology is a powerful tool and I am proud to see my donation to The Prince’s Trust being put into action to help engage disadvantaged youth who would not otherwise have access to technology and science education."
The rapper’s donation will help fund a partnership between the Prince’s Trust which will see Science Museum outreach staff visiting Prince’s Trust clubs in schools across the country to deliver Launchbox workshops to help young people struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.
Will.iam added: "These workshops are an amazing way to engage disadvantaged youngsters who don’t have this sort of access to technology and science otherwise.
"Through this new initiative, we will connect many more disadvantaged youngsters to the worlds of computing, and science and technology."
