Knowledge Volunteers at CITY College – Round 2
Κολέγιο CITY College
Main Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece
You are here: Home / News & Events /
04 April 2013

Knowledge Volunteers at CITY College – Round 2

Student-teachers teach computer skills to over 50 years old students

A second ‘Knowledge Volunteers’ project is in progress for academic year 2012-13 at the International Faculty. Over 50 years old students meet teenager teachers to learn basic computer skills in the frame of the ‘Knowledge Volunteers’ project undertaken by the University of Sheffield International Faculty, CITY College, in collaboration with the organisation ‘50+ Hellas’.

Following the success of the first ‘Knowledge Volunteers (TKV)’ programme completed by the International Faculty, CITY College, in November 2012 the programme now continues with a new cycle of classes with new and returning students and teachers. On the 25th of February 2013, two new groups of The Knowledge Volunteers (TKV) project began classes at the main campus of the University of Sheffield International Faculty in Thessaloniki. In this context, high-school and college students teach students over 50 years old basic computer skills on one-on-one basis. Students who successfully completed the first cycle of the programme, as well as new mature students, now continue with the “advanced group” of the Knowledge Volunteers who are introduced to the digital world of Social Networking, such as Facebook and YouTube. The beginner group runs in parallel with new students who are taught among other basic computer skills, how to navigate the Internet and how to manage an email account.

The project aims are two-folded: to educate older and digitally illiterate individuals on basic skills for computers, and to promote intergenerational learning and volunteering. This way, many older individuals are provided with valuable tools to avoid social exclusion from a contemporary society that relies growingly in digital means to communicate.

Mr. George Pavlidis, the programme coordinator and PhD Candidate in Gerontology at our research centre SEERC says: “I am happy that we manager to run a second cycle of ‘Knowledge Volunteers’, proving that there is a mutual interest from older and young people for knowledge and intergenerational cooperation. The programme aims at promoting active ageing and active youth at the same time. It’s a very interesting blend of roles and I believe that the outcome is a win-win case for both sides involved. The programme definitely gives a different dimension to education.”

The TKV is a European funded project, in the framework of the Grundvig - Lifelong Learning Program.

back
Accreditation and Recognition by:
Change your Cookies Preferences