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Cyber-Seniors : Connecting Generations

Cyber-Seniors’ goal is to bridge the digital divide and connect generations through technology.

Cyber-Seniors trains students to become technology mentors for older adults and provides them with the opportunity to receive practical experience while earning service hours. Upon completion students are awarded a completion certificate and become eligible for awards and prizes. Through this experience students develop important job skills that enhance opportunities for future employment.

Digital Wellbeing
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Overview

HundrED has selected this innovation to

Digital Wellbeing

Web presence

2015

Established

3.2K

Children

4

Countries
Target group
All
Updated
May 2022
Cyber Seniors is a wonderful resource! It provides so much info in one organization and is also a fun opportunity for interaction with other seniors and young people.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

Before Covid, Cyber-Seniors provided expertise to help communities start their own Cyber-Seniors programs, recruiting seniors and mentors in the community to participate in workshops. With the onset of Covid, all in-person workshops were paused, so Cyber-Seniors pivoted to begin providing virtual tech support and daily webinars for seniors with the help of volunteer tech mentors.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

Mentors support us by participating in group technology training webinars on Zoom (either as a presenter or part of the Q&A Team) and providing one-on-one telephone tech-support to senior citizens. Volunteer opportunities are posted on our scheduling system and mentors have the ability to apply for any session that fits their schedule and tech skills. Our scheduling team will notify you if you are chosen to take on the session. In general volunteers can expect to volunteer for 80% of the sessions they show interest in. There is no minimum time commitment, you simply volunteer when you have time. If you require a certain number of hours for community service or course completion, Cyber-Seniors will make its best effort to accommodate. Volunteer hours are tracked, and you will be able to download a Volunteer Hours Report from your Dashboard on the Cyber-Seniors online system.

How has it been spreading?

We have volunteers from 35 states and 5 provinces across North America. Over 3000 volunteers have earned over 16,000 volunteer hours. We also offer co-op opportunities to schools and opportunities in English, French, and Spanish. Interested students can visit our website and begin the training program. Cyber-Seniors also has a dedicated outreach team that works with schools, universities, colleges, and youth programs across North America to ensure that we connect with as many interested volunteers as possible.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Volunteers can register on our website at www.cyberseniors.org/volunteer-with-cyber-seniors, and then complete volunteer opportunities all from home.

Impact & scalability

Academy review results
High Impact
Low Scalability
High Impact
High Scalability
Low Impact
Low Scalability
Low Impact
High Scalability
Read more about our selection process

Media

Meet Keshav, a Cyber-Seniors Tech Mentor
Keshev is a 14-year-old student from Ottawa who volunteers as a tech mentor for the Cyber-Seniors Program. In this video interview he talks about how he learned about Cyber-Seniors, why he decided to sign up as a mentor and what he enjoys about it. Our volunteers are what make the Cyber-Seniors Program possible - thank you Keshev for the important work you do!https://youtu.be/NP7Kfr8lK_U
A Poem About Cyber-Seniors
A Cyber-Senior named Jean wrote this wonderful poem to thank our volunteers! Our student volunteers teach tech lessons and offer one-on-one help - they are what makes Cyber-Seniors possible! And we love hearing how much the program has improved the lives of seniors like Jean.https://youtu.be/bwAHa33O8IQ
Cyber Seniors-How to volunteer virtually
Learn how you can volunteer virtually for Cyber-Seniors, providing tech help by phone or video call to seniors across North America.https://youtu.be/dsZm42OiIrI
These Tech Nonprofits for Seniors Pivoted Online–With Challenges - Techonomy
We were recently featured in an article posted by Techonomy along with other not-for-profits that use tech to provide a better quality of life for aging populations. Check out this exciting read!
Minneapolis Seniors Center pres Nov 2019-Youth testimonial
https://vimeo.com/388243714
Cyber-Seniors | HundrED Spotlight 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou99EeEFef4&feature=youtu.be
Cyber-Seniors Website Tour
https://vimeo.com/239489099/95be8ff21f
Player with Download (Updated)
https://players.brightcove.net/5312763420001/xoALKbYXn_default/index.html?videoId=6046590661001
Cyber-Seniors Documentary - Official Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=bemDf6wuHJ0

Spread of the innovation

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