Why should you make a donation?

Senior Connects is one of the five core programs that comprise Net Literacy. Net Literacy is a youth empowered nonprofit that believes highly motivated students can make a difference in the communities where we reside. As compared to most organizations that offer computer and Internet teaching assistance to seniors, those using the Senior Connects methodology will conduct classes inside a public area within independent living facilities in your community. We have found that this is much more convenient for many of the residents, and especially those without reliable transportation or are mobility impaired. The average age of our “pupils” is 87 years young, and we spend up to five months teaching beginners about computers, how to write letters, how to search the Internet, and how to write emails. We also establish a free email account for them so they can send and receive emails from their friends and family members.

Senior Connects offers a one-on-one training methodology – so seniors, many which are “afraid of being too old” or “no longer being able to learn,” can progress at their own individual pace. The middle school, high school, and college student volunteers and seniors citizens form relationships over the five month training program, and some continue their friendships via email, long after the classes have concluded.

Working with seniors on a one-to-one basis inside their own facility for up to five months results in a highly successful program.

Prior to volunteers being able to teach at a facility, a public computer lab must be constructed. Net Literacy’s Senior Connects program has constructed or expanded hundreds of public computer labs in independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, senior centers, By 2009, Senior Connects has increased computer access to over 50,000 senior citizens in hundreds of independent and assisted living facilities that have receive computers or had their existing computer labs enhanced with the Senior Connects program’s equipment.

Senior Connects is reaching out to other organizations in various communities to help promote senior citizen literacy. In addition to the well over 1,000 student volunteers that have joined individually, some high schools have taken on the Senior Connects cause, adopted numerous facilities all at once, and established chapters within their schools to help senior citizens. Other nonprofit organizations have embraced the Senior Connects resources and materials and use the material and resources that we have created to help increase computer access, computer and Internet literacy, and Internet safety awareness to senior citizens. Social workers have teamed with Senior Connects so that entire communities of seniors living in their own homes could receive transportation to a facility where together with Senior Connects, they could become empowered through their knowledge of the Internet and being able to email friends and family members. Senior Connects is continuing to evolve through nontraditional means, in an effort to promote computer and Internet literacy to senior citizens.

So, what is the purpose of Net Literacy’s Senior Connects program? Our mission statement follows:

Senior Connects Mission Statement: Create a national youth and senior citizens empowerment program that links independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, senior centers, and senior apartments with middle school, high school and college students. Most frequently and as a community outreach programs, students using the Senior Connects program will conduct their training inside independent living and other facilities to maximize participation by those that are mobility-impaired or lack reliable transportation.  However, each community is different and some schools invite senior citizens into their schools to receive training. Work with volunteer-facilitating organizations and youth organizations to encourage youths to use the Senior Connects teaching methodology in communities throughout North America and the world. Develop a Website that contains instructions, frequently asked questions, lesson plans, and practical advice regarding how to effectively teach so that youths can easily establish this program in their own communities via a turnkey program. Serve as a resource to help student volunteers as they establish programs using the Senior Connects training program in their communities. Help independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, senior apartments, and senior centers gain affordable access to computers or attempt to procure computers in their behalf for those facilities unable to afford them. Help promote computer and Internet literacy and Internet safety awareness among seniors so they can better keep in contact with their friends and family members and access the Net to improve the quality of their life. Teach student volunteers job skills, life skills, and provide them an opportunity to serve their community.

 

Volunteers diagnosis problems, repair, wipe the hard drive, reinstall the software, and clean computers prior to donating them to senior citizen facilities. This is one of the earliest pictures of a computer lab that was established by the Senior Connects program in 2003.

Our volunteers are often self-directed individuals that have decided to make a difference in their community by spending some of their free time to help senior citizens. What should be expected from someone using the Senior Connects methodology of training? Depicted below is a commitment that we all volunteers using our methodology should commit to:

Volunteers’ Commitment

What will the seniors learn? Our lessons plans have been adopted from the training provided to thousands of senior citizens at the Carmel Clay Public Library - and are divided into four sections:

•Basic computer skills
•Basic Internet skills
•Internet Search
•Email training (including a free email address for resident upon their request)
•Internet Safety Information

A picture of the first computer lab constructed in a senior citizen apartment complex in 2003 being surveyed by a member of the staff. Her facility’s five newly constructed computers within her facility’s new computer lab encouraged 25% of the residents to learn how to access the Internet.

 

Each senior’s learning requirements will be different. Some will have Net experience and will be interested in the answers to specific questions, while others will require basic computer and Internet skill training. Since our classes are small (usually one to two residents per volunteer), they can be customized to meet the individual requirements of each of the senior centers, senior apartment, or other facility’s residents.

Senior Connects has obtained 2:1 matching funds for the first $10,000 raised, and 1:1 matching funds for the next $2,500 raised. Consequently, your donations will enable us to do three times as much good by helping empower senior citizens - and especially those that are mobility-impaired or do not have reliable transportation - and youths in your community that are looking to make a difference to others.

Thanks for considering helping the Senior Connects program, one of the five core programs of Net Literacy, a 501(c)(3) corporation. If you have questions about this program or prior to donating, please send an email to donkent@netliteracy.org to make inquiry about our nonprofit status. Please consider discussing all potential contributions with your accountant, prior to making them.

Donations can be sent via:

If you wish to mail a donation to Net Literacy, please contact Don Kent via email at donkent@netliteracy.org.