Digital Literacy for Seniors

Media materials:

Download
Youthmakers Hub

Organisation:

Youthmakers Hub

Country:

Greece

About organisation:

Youthmakers Hub (YMH) is a youth-led organization based in Athens with international operations. Their mission is to empower young people to be agents of social change by providing them with the tools and skills needed for the 21st century through a variety of projects and services in fields such as digital innovation, higher education, and active citizenship. YMH partners with like-minded entities and provides services such as proposal writing, project design, project implementation, and training seminars. They are proud to be trusted by the European Commission and involved in several EU-funded projects and have experience and networks in Africa, making them a reference point for the Africa-Europe partnership.

Title of the project

Digital Literacy for Seniors

Start date:

1/10/2021

End date:

30/9/2022

Objectives:

The Digital Literacy For Seniors (DLFS) project was implemented by the Youthmakers Hub organisation from October 2021 to September 2022. The goal of the project was to address the digital illiteracy of older adults (ages 50-70) and provide them with digital skills and knowledge. The project included 2 interactive webinars and a workshop on digital skills and tools, a Facebook group for participants, and a survey to evaluate the impact of the program and identify potential needs for future educational programs. The webinars covered topics such as "Learning the Internet," "Learning Social Networks," and "Internet and Social Networks in Practice."

Why the project was: empowering young people, adapting to changing realities, or thinking out of the box:

The Digital Literacy For Seniors (DLFS) project is considered empowering young people, adapting to changing realities and thinking out of the box for the following reasons:Empowering young people: The project was led by a group of young people from the Youthmakers Hub organisation, who were able to develop valuable skills such as project management, communication, and leadership. Additionally, they were able to make a positive impact on their community by addressing an important issue and supporting older adults in gaining digital literacy skills.Adapting to changing realities: The project addressed the issue of digital illiteracy among older adults, which is becoming increasingly important in today's digital world. By providing education and resources on digital skills and tools, the project is helping older adults adapt to the changing reality of our increasingly digital society.Thinking out of the box: The project's approach to addressing digital illiteracy among older adults is innovative, as it is led by a group of young people and includes interactive webinars and a Facebook group for participants. These methods of delivering education and resources are not traditional and shows that the project's organisers were thinking creatively about how to effectively engage and support their target population.

How the project was inclusive:

The Digital Literacy for Seniors project was given a European dimension and ensured visibility and promotion of Eurodesk by implementing the following strategies:International partnerships: Collaborating with organisations and institutions from other European countries provided a diverse perspective and give the project a European dimension, by promoting the results of the project to all our international partnersPromotion of European values: Incorporating themes and activities that promote European values such as democracy, human rights, and cultural diversity can foster a sense of European identity.Use of European Union funding: Applying and utilising funding from the European Union can provide financial resources for the project and demonstrate its commitment to European cooperation.Promoting Eurodesk: Highlighting the project's partnership with Eurodesk and utilising their resources and networks can increase visibility and promote the organisation's mission and services. These strategies helped to give the project a European dimension and ensure the visibility and promotion of Eurodesk.

Green aspect:

To ensure that the Digital Literacy For Seniors (DLFS) project is environmentally friendly, the following steps were taken: 1) Minimising paper usage by using digital resources and communication; 2) Using energy-efficient technology; 3) Encouraging sustainable transportation; 4) Prioritising environmentally friendly products and services; 5) Implementing waste reduction practices; 6) Regularly monitoring and reporting on the project's environmental impact. These steps helped to reduce the environmental footprint of the project and continuously improve its sustainability.

How the project has given a European dimension to your event and ensured the visibility and promotion of Eurodesk?

The Digital Literacy for Seniors project was given a European dimension and ensured visibility and promotion of Eurodesk by implementing the following strategies:International partnerships: Collaborating with organisations and institutions from other European countries provided a diverse perspective and give the project a European dimension, by promoting the results of the project to all our international partnersPromotion of European values: Incorporating themes and activities that promote European values such as democracy, human rights, and cultural diversity can foster a sense of European identity.Use of European Union funding: Applying and utilising funding from the European Union can provide financial resources for the project and demonstrate its commitment to European cooperation.Promoting Eurodesk: Highlighting the project's partnership with Eurodesk and utilising their resources and networks can increase visibility and promote the organisation's mission and services. These strategies helped to give the project a European dimension and ensure the visibility and promotion of Eurodesk.

Impact:

The Digital Literacy for Seniors (DLFS) project aimed to tackle the digital illiteracy of older adults (ages 50-70) and transferred know-how to the project's target group. A total of 83 people from 21 cities in Greece participated in the project, 10 of which were remote. The average age of the participants was 60 years, with 70% being female and 30% being male. The project has built a small community through the creation of the Facebook Group DLFS Community, in which there are 70 members who participated in the project and 20 posts with educational content related to the project have been published. Results of the survey show that 86.7% of participants stated that improving their digital skills will help them use their time more productively. Additionally, 46.7% of participants stated that improving their digital skills contributes to a sense of independence/autonomy. These results demonstrate the positive impact the project had on the participants and their ability to navigate and use digital tools in their daily life.