BARANGAY SENIORS LEARN FROM SMART MILLENNIORS PROGRAM
Is it possible for our lolos and lolas to experience that feeling of missing out?
“I think seniors often feel left out. Their grandkids are always on their phones. They don’t talk,” said Marielle Tuazon, a Grade 12 graduate from Adamson University.
Marielle and her classmates were among the student-volunteers who spent time with the seniors of Brgy 672 in Paco, Manila during the latest run of the Smart Millenniors program, which promotes bonding between "millennials" and "seniors" over technology.
Life-changing technology
For Lilia Cos, one of the senior-participants, life has not been quite the same since she first discovered how to use a smartphone and social media.
“After that first session, I kept on using Facebook. I asked my kids and my grandkids to help me learn more about it,” said Nanay Lilia.
“Millenniors” is a play on the words “millennials,” who are known to be tech savvy, and “seniors.” The goal of the program is to teach technology to the elderly, specifically about smartphones, mobile data and social media.
In the first two sessions, the seniors learned about the basics of smartphones and mobile data, and were assisted by senior high students from Adamson University in setting up their Facebook accounts and uploading selfies, creating group chats on Messenger and searching for their favorite shows and videos on YouTube.
“Being able to use Messenger is a big help. With it, I can talk to family members abroad, and my friends in Laguna and Cavite. We can chat even if they’re far away,” Nanay Lilia said. “Just last night, I was up late because I was talking to my siblings in Japan and Germany. It was so fun—no matter where they are, as long as we are in one group chat, we can talk about the same things,” she added.
Patience, understanding
For Tuazon, patience and understanding are key elements in facilitating learning among seniors.
“It is also important that you want them to learn, so you can really connect with them and help them,” said Tuazon.
The Smart Millenniors program is part of Smart’s efforts to make technology more inclusive and accessible to more Filipinos.
Apart from the pilot session with seniors in Brgy 734 in Paco, Manila last year, the Smart Millenniors program was also held in Cebu in April with members of the Philippine Association of Retired Persons, in cooperation with EduStudio and Coalition for Better Education.
"We are getting closer to our goal of making Internet truly for all, as more seniors participate in the Smart Millenniors program,” said Smart Public Affairs head Ramon Isberto. “As the world becomes increasingly digital, we are working to make sure that nobody gets left behind.”