KUCHING – A mentorship programme to help seniors with digital literacy training was recently launched in a community project between Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and non-profit organisation Fondation Rolf Schnyder (FRS).
Digital Technologies Seniors Program (DTSP) is the first-of-its-kind programme in Sarawak that engages youths to mentor senior citizens in technology. Each innovative training module in the programme was developed by the lecturers and students of Swinburne, and FRS to fulfil the objectives in mobilising students as cyber-ambassadors to mentor senior citizens in technology, receive reciprocal life lessons in return and thus, bridge the generational gap between youths and seniors.
Open to all the senior citizens in the community, the programme incorporates free training workshops including modules on Basic Phone Settings and Usage, Online Shopping, Food and Parcel Delivery, Staying Safe from Scams, GrabCar, Photography, Videography, Video Calls, Online Banking, e-Wallets, GPS, Facebook, Zoom App, and others.
At the DTSP launching event which included a public webinar on scam awareness, over 180 participants from all parts of Malaysia attended the sessions which were conducted in English and Chinese.
The event was officially launched by Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development (KWKPK) YB Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
In her speech, Dato Sri Fatimah commented that senior citizens who did not grow up with technology and who are not in a position to easily acquire new technical skills will be at a considerable disadvantage as the world moves online.
“Senior citizens can be overwhelmed or isolated by all the technical advances in technology, be it smartphones or tablets that facilitate social media, online banking, online shopping as well as leaving them susceptible to the dangers of scams,” she said.
Dato Sri Fatimah applauded the students of Swinburne involved in the programme for their passion and commitment through months of being trained in empathy and patience to make a difference in the lives of the elderly community in our beloved ‘Bumi Kenyalang’.
The initiative is in line with KWKPK’s mandate to sustain the community wellbeing for a dignified existence for all and to ensure that senior citizens are not left behind in being empowered in the essentials of using their mobile phone.
Speaking at the launch was Swinburne Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Ir. Professor Lau Hieng Ho. In his opening address, Professor Lau emphasised on how the DTSP programme aligns with Swinburne’s 2025 strategic plan in forming a world-class university through creating social impact through technology. Meanwhile, founder of FRS Datin Chai Schnyder shared about the establishment of the organisation and its involvement in various community projects.
A screenshot of the students and team of cyber-ambassadors at the DTSP launching.
The featured speakers of the scam awareness webinars were Scott J. Wong from FRS, and Swinburne lecturers Su Sueh Ing and Chai Ching Yi, who collectively mentored and trained the university’s students in equipping them to be cyber-ambassadors prepared to serve the community. The webinars covered topics to empower the community to be aware of scams in the present age, the methods of different schemes, and ways to stay protected against them.
For further details on DTSP, visit www.digital-seniors.com or email dtspsutsfrs@gmail.com to book a training session with their cyber-ambassadors.
For more information about Swinburne, visit its website www.swinburne.edu.my, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).