Cyber-Seniors: Connecting Generations

Cyber-Seniors is committed to keeping senior citizens socially connected while remaining safe in their homes.

The Cyber-Seniors’ mission is to bridge the digital divide and connect generations through technology.  It does so through the development and dissemination of resources that enable community organizations to provide tech-training for senior citizens using an intergenerational, youth volunteer model. Youth are provided with lessons and learning activities to train them to act as digital mentors, and senior citizens gain access to effective technology training and intergenerational communities that keep them socially connected and engaged.

Goals

• To diminish ageism
• To cultivate intergenerational relationships and support age-friendly communities
• To encourage life-long learning
• To promote social inclusion and community engagement of the elderly
• To develop leadership and work-readiness skills amongst young people
• To help young people develop career awareness
• To reach vulnerable populations

Cyber-Seniors began as a high-school project in 2009 which inspired an award-winning documentary film that has been broadcast in 40 countries and screened in over 500 communities world-wide. ‘Cyber-Seniors : Connecting Generations’, was incorporated as a non-profit organization in January 2015 in response to requests from community-based organizations to replicate the Cyber-Seniors model.

The website is funded by the Government of Canada.