Colombian Program Reduces the Digital Gap for Senior Citizens

The Colombian ‘AdulTICoProgram’ is awarded the 2017 UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy for providing digital skills to seniors.

The literacy prize goes to the Secretariat of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in the city of Armenia in Colombia, located in the department of Quindío.

The Secretariat works to provide better online services to reduce the digital gap among the residents of the city of Armenia.

In 2014, it launched the ‘AdulTICoProgram’ to teach digital competencies to seniors citizens. In 2016, more than 2,275 learners aged between 54 and 80 benefited from the AdulTICoProgram.

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The program includes the teaching of basic computing skills, literacy, the use of social networks, and the appropriate use of mobile devices. The learners participate in interactive trainings through seminar-workshops that are based on a learning-by-doing approach.

Besides being taught digital skills, the learners are also introduced to the opportunities that the internet provides. This increases their ability to use consultation, information and networking services. This skillset positively increases the independence and autonomy of the seniors, and broadens their perspectives and knowledge.

This year’s UNESCO International Literacy Prizes will be awarded to laureates from Canada, Colombia, Jordan, Pakistan and South Africa on the occasion of International Literacy Day, celebrated on 8 September.

The prize-giving ceremony will be organized at UNESCO Headquarters and be part of the global event. This year’s Literacy Prizes will focus on Literacy in a digital world.

Photo courtesy: UNESCO