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ACTing is a two-year project financed by the European Union, promoting Active Ageing through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). There are five project partners, based in Italy (Fondazione Mondo Digitale), Romania (AEPMR), Spain (Fundetec, Fundación Esplai), and Switzerland (ICVolunteers). The goal of the ACTing project is to encourage the social inclusion of the local ageing populations through ICTs at a national and European level. By providing access and skills to new technologies, the participants will achieve higher levels of independence.
From 23rd to 24th September 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland, during the ACTing final event, one initiative will be chosen by an European Committee, on the basis of the social agents’ presentations.
As the Swiss partner, ICVolunteers is in charge of organizing this event, during which the various international activities will be discussed in order to choose one initiative, representing the best digital inclusion initiative of senior citizens through the ACTing project.
Statistics show that the older people are, the less they use ICTs. According to Eurostat, more than 9 out of 10 young people are regular Internet users, while only 42% in the age group over 55 use the Internet on a daily basis. ACTing has helped seniors come to terms with the Internet and many other technologies, by making them realize the added value these technologies can bring. The seniors get to realize that these technologies are enjoyable, helpful and not as time-consuming as expected.
The volunteering social agents are trained to be able to give courses to elderly people who choose an activity they would like to realize, i.e. to learn how to send emails, to be in touch through Skype with family in other countries, to share pictures through their mobile digital devices, etc. This is achieved through group classes organized and taught by the social agents. They are supported on an international level through a web-based platform, designed to transfer specific practical methodologies relating to working with the elderly.
The idea is to provide - social agents and volunteers - with the necessary skills and tools to be effective facilitators of elderly’s e-inclusion, through the development of ICT skills, focused on their daily life, promoting their active aging. This has a knock-on effect on the seniors’ active ageing and inclusion into the Information and Knowledge Society.
This event will be the occasion for celebrating the different inter-generational encounters that the initiatives has driven to, and for comparing the results of seniors inclusion to ICTs in each country.
It will be two intense days for all the participants!
For more information, see http://www.acting4elderly.eu