Digital course empowering senior citizens

Elderly graduates of a basic computer class will get follow-up courses to help them avoid being scammed.

Marilyn Rice-Bowen, president of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) which hosted the digital course told the 21 members ranging in age from 54 to 89 that along with empowering them, the organisation was also ensuring they were protected. 

During a graduation ceremony at BARP’s headquarters in Hastings, Christ Church Rice-Bowen congratulated the members, that included a former security officer, beauty therapist and customs clerk, on their courage to take step for further education and independence.

“Part of our remit is to ensure that our members are empowered so that you can lead lives of independence and dignity. You will recognise that once you can go on the computer and make a bill payment, fill out a form, or just send an email you are going to feel empowered,” she stated.

However, the president explained that while they had taken an important step in embracing the digital tools that shortened distance by making it easy to communicate with those overseas from the comfort of their homes they were also expanding their horizons.

“It opens doors to new opportunities… at BARP we will offer again the issue of dealing with scams because you are now open to a new world and we would want to make sure we protect you further,” Rice-Bowen stated. 

She applauded the students’ courage for taking the step “particularly as we grow older”.

“What you have done today and what you have demonstrated over the last few weeks is that you are never too old to learn and you are in the right space here at BARP because here age is just a number,” she stated. 

Steve Alleyne, chief executive officer of BARP told those gathered that it was only a bold first step on their digital empowerment journey as the association remained committed to expanding computer training for its members.

Retired Central Bank executive Daniel Boamah said having retired 15 years ago at a stage where he passed certain things over to a secretary and in other instances had forgotten aspects of operating in a digital world the course proved to be useful.

Meanwhile, former service quarter manager with the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation Sheila Manning said instead of walking with bundles of paper for writing she will now be “flashing my cell phone like everybody else”.

“. . . And when we hear about AI we won’t be scared, and if we are, we know to whom we can turn to get some direction. There is still one spot where I have a weakness and I hope to catch up on that and there are other things I want to learn,” she said, while calling the course an excellent one for someone who was self-taught.

Course coordinator Jabarry Weir said teaching the course took patience as some of the participants had used the computer but just not as intense as the class had provided.

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