How to make life easier thanks to the use of new communication technologies? The protagonists of the project “Grandparents on the net. All young people at the Post Office" to citizens of the neighborhood who want to discover the services of the public administration at the reach of computers, tablets and smartphones. From 2 to 13 May, the original intergenerational task force, made up of students, grandparents and coordinator teachers, will animate "digital help desks" in 30 schools to bring even the less young and unaccustomed to the use of computers and mobile devices.
After 30 hours spent alongside the young tutors to familiarize themselves with new technologies, even the over 65s who have followed digital literacy courses in 30 Italian cities are ready to train other over 65s "equal". several hours of consultancy, spread over four afternoons: in the neighborhood school, citizens find concrete help in solving practical problems on their device, such as downloading the Post Office app or using the QRCode with BancoPosta, and "digital pills", mini courses for small groups on specific topics (access to information, health services, e-government, electronic payments, etc.).
The schools that open the doors of computer labs for the original digital consultancy activity for citizens are present in all regional capitals and in the following cities: Caserta, Catanzaro, Mantua, Catania, Pisa, Asti and Treviso. The complete calendar can be consulted on the mondodigitale.org website.
From Trento to Catania "Grandparents on the Net. All young people at the Post Office" saw the participation of 576 over 65s, 600 students in the role of tutors and 95 coordinators including managers, teachers and laboratory technicians. The project is the result of the strategic alliance between Poste Italiane, which promotes equal access to new digital services, and the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, which is committed to spreading new technologies among population groups at risk of digital and social exclusion.
The project has the dual objective of promoting the active life of the elderly and facilitating the inclusion of citizens in the transition from the traditional to the digital economy, enhancing the winning contribution of young people to combat the social and technological exclusion of Italians over 65 and reduce the digital divide in the country.
The digital literacy programme, designed for citizens over 65, was carried out in 15 lessons of two hours each. The lessons, from the basics of the computer to online services, were coordinated by a teacher supported by student tutors, one for each student, who provided the elderly with the necessary skills to use the new technologies. A rich training kit in manuals, video lessons and digital pills is available to all participants.
