About FAITh

FAITh aims to combat the digital marginalisation of adults 55+ by enhancing their capacities and building their trust and confidence to use internet and digital technologies to transact online. In doing so, the project will seek to build a robust support network engaging volunteer peers, the family environment, the community, and local market in an effort to facilitate the use, and ultimately adoption, of ICT in the everyday life of older adults. Over the course of the project, the FAITh partnership will develop and implement an innovative Peer-to-Peer mentoring programme that builds on the principles of motivation and support as a way to narrow the digital divide.

The two-year project, funded by the ERASMUS+ Programme of the European Union, will run from January 2021 to January 2023 with the cooperation of 7 partner organisations from Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Portugal.

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Project objectives

Build the digital skills of adults 55+ to undertake a range of online transactions for performing everyday tasks, while increasing their sense of trust and safety online.

Motivate adults 55+ to use the internet and perform online transactions by enlisting the support of ICT competent older adults as positive role models and training them to act as Digital Mentors.

Sensitise family members and carers on the importance of their role in the digital integration of older people, while educating them on the safe use of online processing systems.

Increase the awareness of professionals from the local community and market about the digital inclusion needs of older people and effective ways to address them through age-friendly products and services.

Informing policy at local, national and EU level about the need to take measures for the digital inclusion of older generations, placing the issue of digital literacy of older adults high on the agenda.

Target groups and expected impact

Adults 55+

with a low level of digital skills benefiting from improved digital skills and increased confidence and trust in ICT and internet use.

ICT competent older adults

who will be trained as peer mentors having opportunities for increased community engagement and participation, enhanced motivation and leadership skills.

Family members and carers

gaining a better understanding of their role in supporting digital inclusion of older adults in their environment

Community actors and service providers

acquiring deeper insight into the digital inclusion needs of older people and knowledge on how to prevent the digital marginalisation of older generations.

Local market representatives

that will be able to better comprehend the digital needs of the older generations and how to make their products and services more age-friendly.

EU, national, and local stakeholders

having at their disposal an improved evidence base on the level of digital inclusion of older adults across the EU and effective ways to narrow the digital divide.

target-groups
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Main activities and outputs

Needs assessment and specification

of older adults’ needs and barriers to the use of internet and online transactions through desk and primary research with adults 55+, their family members and carers, and professionals from the local community and market.

Development of learning and training materials

as part of a comprehensive Digital Mentors Peer-to-Peer Programme aiming to build the capacities of older adults 55+ with low digital skills on how to use the internet and make online transactions through face-to-face and game-based online courses.

Capacity building and training

of adults 55+ on internet use and online transaction management systems; of professionals from the local community and market on the concept of age-friendly environments; of family members and carers on effective ways to support older adults in using digital technologies.

Awareness raising and dissemination

of the project’s peer-to-peer approach and mentoring methodology to strategic actors and stakeholders in an effort to increase awareness on the digital inclusion of older adults as a way to empower their active engagement and participation.