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That of Granddad Enzo may well have been one of the most touching stories at the Awards Ceremony for the fifth edition of the Knowledge Volunteers Competition (Rome, May 8, 2015). A long applause underlined his use of the famous phrase - Veni, Vidi, Vinci - that he chose to emphasise his winning experience with Grandparents on the Internet.
Enzo attended the digital literacy course at the liceo scientifico Leonardo di Vinci in Jesi (Ancona). Here is the full text of his short address:
My name is Enzo Battistelli. I live in Jesi and turned 80 last November. I have been married for 54 years; have two sons and three grandchildren.
In 2013, I received a portable computer from my children along with a note saying, “now do something with it!” However, as you may well imagine, I was happy neither with the gift, nor with the note!
I looked at that object on my desk with diffidence for a whole year. Then, together with my wife, we looked into a few different opportunities and ended up at the Liceo Scientifico di Jesi il “Leonardo da Vinci,” managed by Andrea Gagliardini, in a large room full of computers.
Some of my elder friends asked me “Why are you wasting the time on this? … You’ll be dead soon …” and other such delicate comments, but notwithstanding this adverse advice, it was quite an experience. A LIVELY, EXCITING AND ENTHUSIASTIC experience!
LIVELY because the individuals who attend the course are happy to participate, tackle a novelty and reactive notwithstanding their age!!!
EXCITING because it’s a challenge: a person against a technological device that one must learn and understand how to use.
ENTHUSIASTIC because I understood its language and how it works. It opened up an entire new world that I observed like a child wonders at a magician. It’s an endless source of information, knowledge, learning, e-mail exchanges, exploration and the possibility of meeting new people on Facebook. It’s getting into tune with today’s world and its speed, running with opinions, facts and news. The computer has allowed me to tackle this vast new reality and even chat with my grandchildren … So allow me to conclude with a famous phrase by Julius Caesar: VENI VIDI VICI!
