by Roswitha Ludwig, Senior-Internet-Helper, Germany

Seniors learn from seniors how to use the computer. Eight to ten years ago, that was a unusual combination. Now a umbrella association was based in order to bundle all such initiatives and interests.

The beginning

Carmen Stadelhofer, the director of ZAWiW Ulm, collected first in Ulm positive experiences. A Senior-Info-Mobile and an action supported by the media „Going to the Internet with Gießbert“ brought the undertaking into the rural area. It is mainly in the rural areas that there is a need for offers for seniors and the wish to connect all possible areas with the help of the Internet.

Internet in the rural area

The model project „Senior-Internet-HelferInnen im ländlichen Raum”, which was funded by the program doIT-regional form the Ministry for nutrition and rural area in Baden-Württemberg from November 2005 till February 2007, responded to this need. The success story at the time of the conclusion of the project was worth reading: over 450 voluntary Senior-Internet-Helpers were trained and more than 50 corresponding regional initiatives were established. The local conditions and the carriers of the individual institutions were very different and and ZAWiW’s members provided differentiated advice, support and fostered exchange.

The umbrella association brings continuity

In order to preserve the continuity of the action and the support of the voluntary Senior-Internet-Helpers, in March 2008 an umbrella association was established, the „Netzwerk Senior-Internet-Initiativen Baden-Württemberg”.
If as much as possible of the initiatives join and this education range is recognized as eligible for support from political side, the Zentrum für Allgemeine Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung der Universität Ulm (ZAWiW) can continue to train and qualify its senior members for this work.

I was there

As an active Senior-Internet-Helper I add my actuall motivating experiece. A visitor wantet to be able to do more than just writing e-Mails or consume. “Wikipedia” was a flash of light for her. “You can even learn via the Intenernet”, she declared with enthusiasm and rosy cheeks. Next week we meet again to make a new “journey of knowledge” trough the world wide web.

Information in the web
http://www.senioren-internet-initiativen.de/