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Digital Bridge: Students help seniors in Pongau with technology!
Students support seniors with digital questions in Pongau. New dates for the project “Mobile Phones, Laptops & Co.” stand firm.
Digital Bridge: Students help seniors in Pongau with technology!
In Pongau the project “Mobile Phones, Laptops & Co.” of the Diakoniewerk was carried out with great success. The aim of the program is to bring students and seniors together so that the younger ones can help the older ones with digital questions. The students support the seniors in 1:1 care, which has proven to be extremely popular. Just recently, the fifth afternoon took place on May 15th at the BG/BRG/BORG St. Johann.
New dates have already been set to continue the initiative in Pongau. The third afternoon will take place on May 23rd at BORG Radstadt (from 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.). A premiere is also planned for June 4th at the Bad Hofgastein Tourism School, which will last from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Those interested are encouraged to register in order to be able to continue the events.
Positive experiences and important feedback
The teacher, Ms. Mayrhofer, emphasizes that both students and seniors benefit from this exchange. Through the encounters, the students not only get to know how to use technology better, but also experience gratitude from the seniors. Julia Bergmann, the project manager, emphasizes the crucial role of schools, teachers and students in the success of the project. In addition to the afternoons, IT consultation hours in Flachau and individual 1:1 support at home are also offered to improve the digital skills of seniors.
The “Age Competence” project, which is organized in cooperation with schools, pursues a similar goal. Free monthly smartphone consultation hours are offered at participating schools. The students patiently help the seniors with questions about using their smartphones and tablets. The approach aims to help reduce prejudices between generations and ensure that older people can actively participate in social life, especially during times of the pandemic, which has increased feelings of loneliness.
Promoting generational exchange
The project allows the older participants not only to learn new things, but also to share their own stories while the students listen with interest. Some students are particularly popular, for example one of them has brittle bone disease, which is very popular with the older participants. There is also occasional help with homework, which further promotes exchange between generations.
More schools will be recruited for the project in the future. The repetition of existing offers and the establishment of a storytelling café are also planned. Raising awareness against fraud, such as the so-called grandchild trick, also plays an important role in future steps. No direct additional support is currently necessary, but new ideas are always welcome to further strengthen the exchange between generations.
The following contact information is available for anyone interested in taking part in the project: Julia Bergmann, by phone on +43 664 88 1313 40, or by email at julia.bergmann@diakoniewerk.at. The commitment to these projects is a valuable contribution to strengthening intergenerational relationships.