HI Digital - Luxembourg
Older people usually take the back seat when it comes to digital access, an aspect that is slowing Europe's digital transformation. Older people are not just more prone to be digitally-excluded, but also at risk of further social inclusion, with EU data pointing to just 1 in 4 people in Europe between 65-74 having basic digital literacy. This is linked to rights: in a digital economy, access to healthcare and key social and public services risks to see older people fall behind their fundamental rights, such as access to healthcare or pensions.
The challenge of equipping everyone with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the digital transformation of economy and society is a shared one, albeit differences exist amongst EU Member States. HI Digital aims to increase older people’s confidence online, especially in the countries with some of the lower digital skills levels in the EU (19% in Ireland and 21% in the Czech Republic). In Luxembourg, an initiative by the Vodafone Foundation, alongside several charity partners - HI Digital - tackles this in a way that leaves no one behind.
Hi Digital in the spotlight: some context
HI Digital helps older people in Luxembourg navigate digital public services in a confident and secure way, tackling those most at risk of being digitally-excluded. The initiative offers a step-by-step course designed for anyone, who needs a bit of help to upgrade their digital knowledge, with a special focus on those that have never been online (often, this relates to people aged 65+).
The course consists of bite-sized lessons organised around key digital themes, including: the basics of internet access, an essential guide to apps, or features that can enhance day-to-day life, and mitigate isolation. Participants are free to choose the model to learn that suits them best: either with a mentor or a coach, or independently. Children, grandchildren, and others from the community are also welcome to take part and bridge the digital divide present between generations.
The training course is also a good option for those with some degree of either sight or hearing impairment(s). There is a zoom feature allowing users to enlarge text, and all text is accompanied by an audio option, in line with making the course accessible for all.
Why is this a good practice?
The current strategy behind the initiative runs until 2025: and the project is likely to continue if there is a clear need for it to do so. The programme has been built to deliver long-term sustainable impact by working closely with local government bodies from the onset of the project, to build capacity and opportunities to expand the reach of learning materials.
The aim is to reach 1 million over 65s by 2026, via online and face-to-face training. The programme reached 114,823 people in its first year (2021-2022) and continues to scale up. Since April 2023, this number stands at over 250,000 people.
The project has been designed so that it can be replicated across markets. The platform content is developed in a way that can be easily ‘Lifted and Shifted’ to any country in Europe. Having started originally in Ireland, HI Digital has been replicated in Luxembourg and in the United Kingdom. The initiative is in development also in the Czech Republic and in the Netherlands. Beyond the platform and its online learning content, the model of delivering digital skills training to older people in partnership with local NGOs is the same with methods and good practices routinely shared across all 5 participating countries. The collaborative model has been designed so that it can be easily replicated in new countries and contexts, and has the potential to impact Europe massively.
