Graziella, who is seventy, first came into contact with new communication technology thanks to Project Grandparents on the Internet at the Post Office. She is currently attending the digital literacy course for elders held at the Corso Dante Post Office in Asti. Together with her over-sixty peers, she has attended three lessons and will continue the course after the summer break to complete the 15-lesson programme covering a range of topics from the abc of computers to on-line postal services.
Reached on the phone by Cecilia Stajano, Graziella beautifully describes the tutors as mature and responsible young men and women who take their responsibility as digital mediators very seriously.
“They are very different than how they are portrayed by the media,” Graziella. “They have a very humble approach and when they see that we have learnt something, their satisfaction is evident.”
Graziella confesses that she really enjoys this relationship with the younger generation. Besides learning about new technology, she likes to point out the human aspect: “It’s an incredibly enriching experience.”
The Corso Dante Post Office tutors are students from IIS Alberto Castigliano, headed by Headmaster Ugo Rapetti.
Thanks to the work of coordinating teachers Roberta Borgnoli and Stella Perrone, the winner of the last edition of the Knowledge Volunteers, the learning environment is perfect. There also is a significant presence of young foreign women who are also helping the elders with their knowledge as digital natives.
