Cyber-Seniors’ goal is to bridge the digital divide and connect generations through technology.

Cyber-Seniors : Connecting Generations

Canada

Cyber-Seniors trains students to become technology mentors for older adults and provides them with the opportunity to receive practical experience while earning service hours. Upon completion students are awarded a completion certificate and become eligible for awards and prizes. Through this experience students develop important job skills that enhance opportunities for future employment.

Career Skills, Digital Citizenship, Digital Literacy, Digital Wellbeing, Professional Development, Student-Led, Student Mentoring, Youth Work

Cyber Seniors is a wonderful resource! It provides so much info in one organization and is also a fun opportunity for interaction with other seniors and young people.

Anonymous

Overview

HundrED has selected this innovation to

Digital Wellbeing

Key figures

Innovation Overview

ALL

Target Group

3 200

Children/Users

Countries

2015

Established

Not-for-profit

Organisation

1 554

Views

Updated on June 28th, 2022

about the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

Before Covid, Cyber-Seniors provided expertise to help communities start their own Cyber-Seniors programs, recruiting seniors and mentors in the community to participate in workshops. With the onset of Covid, all in-person workshops were paused, so Cyber-Seniors pivoted to begin providing virtual tech support and daily webinars for seniors with the help of volunteer tech mentors.

How does your innovation work in practice?

Mentors support us by participating in group technology training webinars on Zoom (either as a presenter or part of the Q&A Team) and providing one-on-one telephone tech-support to senior citizens. Volunteer opportunities are posted on our scheduling system and mentors have the ability to apply for any session that fits their schedule and tech skills. Our scheduling team will notify you if you are chosen to take on the session. In general volunteers can expect to volunteer for 80% of the sessions they show interest in. There is no minimum time commitment, you simply volunteer when you have time. If you require a certain number of hours for community service or course completion, Cyber-Seniors will make its best effort to accommodate. Volunteer hours are tracked, and you will be able to download a Volunteer Hours Report from your Dashboard on the Cyber-Seniors online system.

How has it been spreading?

We have volunteers from 35 states and 5 provinces across North America. Over 3000 volunteers have earned over 16,000 volunteer hours. We also offer co-op opportunities to schools and opportunities in English, French, and Spanish. Interested students can visit our website and begin the training program. Cyber-Seniors also has a dedicated outreach team that works with schools, universities, colleges, and youth programs across North America to ensure that we connect with as many interested volunteers as possible.