Mobile communications, the efficient use of smartphones and tablets, and knowledge of how to use apps will no longer be a secret for over-65s thanks to the second edition of “Grandparents on the Internet. Everyone’s Young at the Post Office.” In fact, the digital literacy programme promoted by Poste Italiane and the Fondazione Mondo Digitale starts again in 20 municipalities in various Italian Regions to help elders use the Internet and introduce them to digital culture through young teachers.
Over the course of the last five years, over-65s who use the Internet have doubled: in the 65-74 age group the percentage has grown from 12.1% to 25.6%. In 2010, over-75s using the Internet were 2%, while now they are 6.7%. A recent Istat Report entitled “Cittadini, imprese e ICT" confirms the role of adolescents as digital facilitators in the household: over 88.3% of families with a minor now have broadband and a combination of fixed and mobile technologies. Even over-65s looking for information tend to used smartphones (25%) and tablets (18%), according to a Pragma Survey conducted in collaboration with the University of Roma Tre.
In order to accelerate national digitalization, promote universal access to new services and improve digital skills amongst the population at greatest risk of exclusion, the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Poste Italiane have decided to pursue the experience of Project “Grandparents on the Internet. Everyone’s Young at the Post Office.” The 2016-2017 programme will be organised with the successful formula of intergenerational learning: the adults will be taught by school students coordinated by teachers. The courses will total 30 hours and be held in school computer labs. However, the second edition of the project will focus on the use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Twenty cities are invovled: Ancona, Aosta, San Donà di Piave, Cagliari, Catania, Chivasso, Milan, Campobasso, L’Aquila, Naples, Perugia, Pisa, Potenza, Rapallo, Reggio Calabria, Rome, Sassuolo, Taranto, Trento and Pordenone. Moreover, from metropolitan areas and regional capitals, the project will now reach smaller centres, such as Rapallo, where nearly 30% of the citizens are aged 65 or more.
The advantage of “Grandparents on the Internet” is the strategic alliance between the Italian Postal Service, and its challenge to promote equal opportunities in the access to new services, and the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, committed to introduce new technology to the most fragile population, and schools, the greatest infrastructure in the country.
Together, they have decided to help over-65s become acquainted with digital tools and e-gov services that can improve their quality of life. The initiative, which promotes an active life amongst the elderly and the swift inclusion of all citizens in the transformations put into place by the digital economy, is based on the invaluable help of young children to fight social and technological exclusion of over-6s and to reduce the digital divide in our country.
The last edition of “Grandparents on the Internet” involved 576 over-65s, 600 student tutors and 95 coordinators, including Headmasters, teachers and lab techs.
The digital literacy programme for citizens aged 65 and over was held over the course of 15 two-hour lessons. The lessons, ranging from an Introduction to Computers to On-line Services, were held one-on-one by student tutors, coordinated by a teacher. All participants received a complete kit with manuals, video lessons and digital pills.
For further information and registration, please contact the call centre 06 42014109 (Extension 1). The service will be active beginning on November 14 (Monday – Friday, 9 am – 6pm).
