FLOW empowering seniors through online safety, digital education programmes
TODAY, WORLD Telecommunication & Information Society Day is being celebrated under the theme ‘ Digital Technologies for Older Persons and Healthy Ageing’.
With the rapid acceleration of digitisation across the world, it is now more important than ever that persons of all ages are enabled to fully participate in and benefit from this digital economy. To this end, FLOW Jamaica has been at the forefront of proudly enabling the progress of Jamaicans, from the young to the young at heart, through digital inclusion. Since January 2020, the communications and entertainment provider has connected over 500 underserved and unserved communities and trained thousands in digital and data literacy.
The company, through its foundation, has been empowering Jamaican seniors over the years through its free Online Safety and Digital Education Programmes.
Hundreds have attended its online safety and digital-enablement sessions staged under its annual Safer Internet Week of Activities. Over the years, the organisation has hosted Device Security Workshops and partnered with the Jamaica Constabulary Force Cyber Crimes Division and the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team to share online safety tips. It has also engaged other organisations such as financial institutions, and more recently, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, for sessions on online banking and digitising one’s vaccination card, respectively. The sessions may be found on FLOW Jamaica’s YouTube channel.
Scores of seniors are also among the thousands of Jamaicans now engaged in the Foundation’s Digital Education Programme, which is being administered through two initiatives: the Training for Professionals Programme and the Skills for the Future Programme. Both are online, free for participants and offer self-paced learning and certified courses.
“We are engaging with all age groups and ensuring that they are empowered to navigate and utilise digital technologies, safely, competently, and to their betterment. Our commitment is to empower as many Jamaicans as possible through our online safety and digital education programmes. We have underwritten the cost of these programmes, removing that financial barrier, as we seek to enable greater participation in the digital economy. It is heart-warming that our seniors understand that they, too, need to get on board and have seized this training opportunity,” shared Kayon Mitchell, communications director at FLOW and executive director of the FLOW Foundation.
In 2021, the FLOW Foundation was honoured by The National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) with its Corporate Service Award in recognition of its work in “creating and enabling a supportive environment for seniors” and was highlighted as an” outstanding partner in support of the mandate of the Council, such as digital inclusion and other major initiatives in support of healthy, active ageing”.
According to Casandra Morrison, executive director, National Council for Senior Citizens, “We believe that our senior citizens make a significant contribution to our society. We are grateful to the FLOW Foundation for supporting our initiatives over the years and commend them for always including our seniors in their programmes.”
Shirley Thurlow, a participant in the Training for Professionals Programme, could hardly wait to get started. Described by family members as “energetic and alert”, the 86-year-old who states that you can “never be too old to learn” is pursuing the Exercise & Fitness Course. “When you get to my age, you learn that the important thing in life is a healthy body and mind. I keep my body healthy by working out at the gym. I keep my brain alert by using the computer … I am quite good at it too!” she said with a laugh in her voice.
IMPORTANT FOR IMPROVEMENT
Another participant, 60-yearold Charles Murdock, believes that training is “important to improve one’s livelihood” and is upskilling himself in his established field of accounting. A self-employed accountant, Murdock networks through membership in several social clubs. “In any field that you work, it is important to keep up to date in that area. Training and improving your skills is the way to do this. This course is an excellent opportunity for certification. I believe it will open doors for me to earn through networking with the other members in the programme,” he shared.
Their counterpart in the Skills for the Future Programme, 63-year-old Douglas Schurton, wanted “to increase his digital knowledge base to better navigate the current digital environment and to help others who do not have the opportunity to do the same.” The retired father of three is determined to become more proficient in using the ever-changing technology and embracing the digital world. “I am enjoying the interaction with the facilitator and the participants in my group, who are younger than I am. It allows me to understand their thinking and the challenges they face while living in this fastpaced world. I certainly would recommend the programme to others, whether young or old, so they can be educated on how to use technology to conduct personal and business-related matters online,” he stated.
Similar sentiments were expressed by 66-year-old Janet Moulton. The retired mother and grandmother shared that while she has had to use a computer for many years on the job, there is still a lot that she does not know. Moulton said:“I am in the process of starting my own business. I want to learn how to manage data and do spreadsheets, which is one of the reasons why this programme caught my attention. Also, knowing more about computers and using the Internet will definitely help me to succeed in my business venture.”
FLOW continues to support Jamaica’s Vision 2030 and remains committed to building a more digitally enabled society across all age groups.