The Cibervoluntarios Foundation and the AEB Foundation, of the Spanish Banking Association (AEB), today launch a new phase of Expertclick, their free training program on the use of new technologies for individuals over 55 years of age residing in rural areas, with the goal of reaching 1,200 students in 2020, which will bring the total number of beneficiaries to 2,500 since the program began three years ago.
Given that the older adult population is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, this edition will be conducted exclusively online, with students connecting to a virtual classroom with a maximum of twelve attendees. To facilitate their connection, a helpline will be available, and inquiries can be made via telephone at 915 422 900 and through a tool on the website www.expertclick.org, which will be operational to resolve their doubts for up to one month after the program concludes.
The 100 online workshops, which will be held from now until the end of the year, consist of three sessions, each lasting an hour and a half. Through mobile phones or tablets, participants will be taught the use and management of tools, applications, services, and technological content related to administrative, health, online banking, or social procedures.
Any public or private institution—such as associations for older adults or residents, day centers, city councils, or institutions representing older adults—can submit their application at www.expertclick.org to participate in this project, which aims to improve the quality of life for this group.
“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of using new technologies for everyday tasks such as working from home, consulting doctors, benefiting from social support programs, and accessing financial services, especially for those living in remote areas,” stated José María Roldán, president of AEB and its foundation.
“This fully personalized training not only seeks to improve the quality of life for older adults and promote active aging, but also contributes to the socioeconomic inclusion of individuals through the Internet, which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) calls the inclusive revolution,” he emphasized.
For Yolanda Rueda, president of the Cibervoluntarios Foundation, “older adults are willing to learn everything technology can do to make their lives easier and thus become active agents in this digital society.”
More than 1,300 individuals over 55 years of age from approximately 80 rural municipalities across Spain have already attended these workshops to discover the benefits of digital integration in the program’s first two editions.
