How can we simplify our lives thanks to new ICT technology? The protagonists of “Grandparents On-line, Everyone’s Young at the Post Office” will explain it to citizens who wish to discover who to use public administration services that are available via computers, tablets and smartphones.

The original intergenerational task force, which includes students, elders and coordinating teachers, will host digital information desks on May 2-13 in 30 schools to help introduce citizens to the use of computers and mobile devices.

After 30 hours with their young tutors to learn about new technology, even the over-65s will be helping out in the 30 cities to train their own peers. Each school will provide a given number of hours of free help over the course of four afternoons. These neighbourhood schools will help citizens solve practical problems such as downloading the Post Office app or using a QRCode with BancoPosta, as well as other “mini courses” on specific issues (access to information, health services, e-government, on-line payments, etc.).

The schools that will open their computer labs up for this original digital help desk activity are present in all regional capitals and in the following cities: Caserta, Catanzaro, Mantua, Catania, Pisa, Asti and Treviso. The full calendar is available at:  www.mondodigitale.org.

From Trento to Catania, 576 elders, 600 student tutors and 95 coordinators (school administrators, teachers and lab technicians) participated in “Grandparents On-line, Everyone’s Young at the Post Office.” The project is based on a strategic alliance between Poste Italiane, which promotes equal access to its new digital services, and the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, which promotes the diffusion of new technology amongst categories at risk of social and digital exclusion.

The project has a double objective: promoting an active lifestyle amongst the elderly and promoting the inclusion all citizens in the transition from a traditional to a digital economy, exploiting the precious contribution of young men and women to fight social and technological exclusion of over-65s and reducing the Italian digital divide.

The digital literacy programme devised for over-65s was based on 15 two-hour lessons. The lessons, which ranged from the ABC of computers to on-line services, were held by student tutors (one for each elder student) coordinated by a teacher, who provided the elders with the necessary competences to use new technology. Participants had access to a full educational kit, including manuals, video lessons and short lessons.

  “Digital Desks” - Calendar

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