The project aims to empower elderly and people with disabilities by enhancing their digital literacy. Through specifically designed programmes, it focuses on familiarising and training them in new technologies,  ensuring they can navigate, communicate, and utilize essential online tools and platforms effectively and independently. Participants will learn to use digital applications for communication, make electronic payments securely, navigate and utilize government services through platforms like gov.gr, and engage with social media to stay connected with their communities.

The project’s goals will bring multiple benefits in enhancing independent living, reducing dependency and promoting social inclusion of older people and people with disabilities. The digital literacy of these people will enable them to successfully meet their daily needs in an independent way, resulting in:

• Reducing future needs for health and welfare benefits
• Reducing geographical inequalities
• Fighting bureaucracy and accelerating the effective use of digital public administration services
• Facilitating access to healthcare services
• Avoiding the marginalisation of the elderly and disabled

The project will be implemented through 3 main actions:

1. Educational actions for the elderly

Implementation in 120 Digital Empowerment Centres for Older People which will operate in municipalities across the country.

Training and digital empowerment of 3,600 people in 70-hour programmes.

2. Educational actions for people with disabilities

Implementation in 80 Digital Empowerment Centres for Persons with Disabilities which will operate in appropriate structures (care centres, Institute of the National Association of People with Disability & Chronic Diseases , etc.).

Training and digital empowerment of 2,800 people in 80-hour programmes.

3. Development and digitisation of training material

Development of appropriate training material which will then be digitised and uploaded on the National Academy of Digital Skills in order to be available to both the beneficiaries of the programme and the population at large.

The 200 Digital Empowerment Hubs will be equipped with appropriate electronic equipment for their operation (Laptop, Tablet, Projectors, Projection Screens and Multi-machines) and will be supported by an appropriate information system.

The role of GRNET in the project is related to the following objectives:

1. Development of educational content for the digital empowerment hubs for older people & supporting actions
2. Production of digital interactive E-Learning material and uploading to the National Academy of Digital Skills
3. Project Support Information System
4. Supply of Electronic Equipment for Digital Empowerment Hubs
5. Implementation of training on the Digital Empowerment Hubs for Older People
6. Social impact assessment study of the project
7. Publicity of the project

Participating partners in the project are:

1. Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs
2. National Infrastructures for Research and Technology
3. Institute of the National Association of People with Disability & Chronic Diseases

The project will receive 100% funding from the Recovery and Resilience Fund and the Public Investment Programme.