Posted: Wednesday, October 2, 2024. 4:28 pm CST.
UB Digital Buddies at the September Expo in Belize City – Photo Credit: By Rubén Morales Iglesias
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: As part of their community service, approximately 200 University of Belize (UB) students
are reaching out through their Senior Digital Literacy Program and have assisted around 400 senior citizens throughout Belize, in just two weeks, to use their digital devices more effectively
Arnulfo Kantun, UB’s Business Development Officer and the Senior Digital Literacy Program Coordinator, said 200 Digital Buddies have been trained to assist seniors with the use of digital devices.
“We’re trying to involve the seniors in being more updated and to know more about the advanced technology now that the world is evolving and technology is just getting more and more advanced,” said Lizbeth Cal, who studies in the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences.
“We just want to include them in these practices as well. We have Digital Buddies all around the country, in the North, in Belize City, in Belmopan, in San Ignacio, and even in the South.”
UB Senior Digital Literacy Program – Photo Credit: UB Marketing and Communication
Kantun mentioned that the project is part of the Community Service program UB students must complete. He noted that it is particularly beneficial for Information Technology (IT) students.
“The IT students, whose major is Computer Technology, get to use some of their skills,” Kantun said.
“We also have a large number of foreign students who are studying English. This direct interaction with Belizeans allows them to practice their language skills as well. So, it’s a useful tool for everyone.”
The Digital Buddies have been meeting seniors at schools, churches, and other public spaces, where they conduct an in classroom setting training of digital devices in English or Spanish and then help seniors on a one-and-one basis.
“I think it’s a really innovative idea, and since most processes are going online, it’s a good idea to involve everyone and make sure that everyone is up-to-date and I think it’s something that we should really look forward to doing in other areas as well,” said volunteer Cindy Cal.
UB Senior Digital Literacy Program – Photo Credit: UB Marketing and Communication
The current program, which is being conducted in partnership with the National Council of Ageing, the Ministry of Human Development, Families, and Indigenous Peoples Affairs, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), started on September 19 and will close on October 15. However, Kantun believes it could be extended due to the high demand for the service. He said there are quite a number of people around the country who need the service.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to help a lot of people, like my grandparents and parents, who also have this kind of issue,” said Geovanni Rash, who is studying for his Associate’s Degree in Business Sciences.
“I know how it is that sometimes they can’t contact their relatives or the friends they want to get in contact with. It’s a great idea. If they’re worried about their information, we’re keeping that confidential.”
Rash added that they are helping seniors not only to operate phones but also with online banking, sending emails, and using apps like WhatsApp and Messenger. Kantun noted that they are also assisting people in filling out Social Security forms online and identifying scams.
The Digital Buddies were at the Expo in Belize City in September when the project started, while Kantun and other Digital Buddies were at Centro Escolar Mexico in San Roman, Corozal. The program was initially set to close on Sunday, October 5, but was extended to Tuesday, October 15.
UB Senior Digital Literacy Program – Photo Credit: UB Marketing and Communication
This weekend, the Digital Buddies will be in Belize City, Benque Viejo del Carmen, and Toledo. On Friday, they’ll be at the Lake Independence Baptist School from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. On Saturday, another group will be at the Mopan Tech School in Benque Viejo del Carmen from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Then, on Sunday at 3:00 p.m., the Digital Buddies will be at the Iglesia Evangélica Camino Bíblico in Bella Vista.
Kantun emphasized the dire need for assistance to seniors throughout the country, noting that many older persons are marginalized.
“It’s very sad. Nobody pays attention to them, nobody helps them with their Social Security forms, and some of them are self-employed,” Kantun said.
“It’s really sad. Nobody is looking at that group, and the country is getting older. We are an aging population, so what happens to us as we get older, and the social support services?”
“They are being left outside. This project has really opened the university’s eyes to how marginalized our older population has become and that we need to do something about that.”
That’s the reason why Kantun believes the Senior Digital Literacy program could become an ongoing initiative at UB.
“Of course, because our students are young, vibrant, and have a lot of energy,” Kantun said.
“They need to do service. Their service was, you know, the normal service: go paint a park bench, go plant some trees, and that’s not really deep, you know. And now you take a project like this where you’re interacting with a human being, with somebody who needs help, then it’s more meaningful.”
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Posted: Wednesday, October 2, 2024. 4:28 pm CST. UB Digital Buddies at the September Expo in Belize City – Photo Credit: By Rubén Morales Iglesias By
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