The campaign to join the Network of Knowledge Volunteers kicks off today at the Rome Campidoglio with the preview of a viral video on the exchange of knowledge between individuals of all ages and nationalities. Deputy Mayor Luigi Nieri opened the event with a warm welcome.
Today, the many smiling faces that animated one of the Rome Campidoglio’s most famous halls left the busts of its illustrious citizens in the background. The protagonists were the Knowledge Volunteers, who are now organized into a Network with more than 36,000 participants. Deputy Mayor Luigi Nieri opened the event with a warm welcome. “This is a particularly important meeting that addresses very interesting issues that bring together different generations through volunteering, communication, technology and the exchange of knowledge,” Nieri said.
If they are young, they’re the tutors of the digital literacy courses that are held in the computer labs of schools, digital facilitators for the Internet corners in elderly centers, PC regenerators or virtual animators in the innovation community (www.phyrtual.org).
If they are teachers, they’re specializing in didactics for social innovation and the elderly.
If they are adults or elders, they’re the peer tutors at elderly centers or in volunteer associations and they provide their skills and knowledge to help the younger volunteers on the job market and with entrepreneurial projects.
Alfonso Molina, Professor of Technology Strategy at the University of Edinburgh and Scientific Director of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, explains the peculiarities of Knowledge Volunteering: “The type of volunteering that we propose here is focused on the exchange of knowledge between generations and centers on major social issues. It is an educational process that leads to the acquisition of new competences such as the ability to solve problems, creativity, entrepreneurialism, cooperation, solidarity and social responsibility. For students, it’s an important opportunity to begin building their future,” while elders “not only learn to use new technologies and overcome isolation, but also provide all of their social and professional experience to their younger tutors.”
The event at the Campidoglio was also the perfect opportunity to present a series of related projects: the 4th edition of the Knowledge Volunteers Competition;the 12th edition of Grandparents on the Internet, a project that developed in Rome and has spread to 18 Italian Regions and 8 European countries; the new ISIS project that was won the "Award for the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity Amongst Generations” presented by the Italian Government’s Family Policy Department and the final event for The Knowledge Volunteers Project, financed by the European Commission, with awards presented to volunteers from Italy, Spain, Greece and the Czech Republic.
Mirta Michilli, Director General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, coordinated the event. Other participants included Erica Battaglia, President of the Rome Social Policy Commission and Valeria Baglio, President of the Rome School Commission, as well as representatives of all the European partner organisations.
Watch the interview with Luigi Nieri, Deputy Mayor of Rome
Watch the interview with Valeria Baglio, President of the Rome School Commission
Watch the interview with Erica Battaglia, President of the Rome Social Policy Commission
For further information:
Event Press Kit
