Digital volunteers wanted in community centers: “Everyone has to be there” (Antwerp)
Avansa, Ligo, Saamo and Elegast vzw are looking for volunteers to help Antwerp residents with digital questions. “You would be amazed at how many problems you have with your smartphone or computer,” says Jan Verlinden, Digi-table volunteer. “And you can just drop by here for the simple problem.”
Thursday, 1 pm. The robust Digi table takes place in neighborhood work De Wijk van Saamo (Antwerp Community Development) nearby. Anyone who has questions about their smartphone, tablet or computer can walk in without an appointment and ask for help. Or do you want to know how to send an e-mail, scan QR codes, activate online payments and start Itsme? You can also join the Digi table for this.
Neighborhood work Elegast vzw in the Twee Netenstraat on den Dam has a similar effect to Digi-Thursday. And with the Digiburger project, Avansa Antwerp is visiting service centers in Antwerp and the districts, among other things, to familiarize local residents with the digital world.
More and more people are finding their way to those digi moments. To the extent that the existing pool of volunteers can manage it all. That is why the organizations are calling for digital volunteers.
“40% of Belgians are digitally vulnerable, which means they don’t have a smartphone, tablet or computer or don’t know how to use it,” says Mattia De Pauw, digital inclusion project coordinator at Saamo. “Yet for more things you need the computer of the internet. Digitization is good, but everyone has to be digital. Those who are not with us should be able to go somewhere, but often do not dare to take that step. We try to keep the threshold as low as possible. Anyone can just pop in with a question. There is coffee and our volunteers take the time to solve the problem together.”
Borrowed laptop
Mohamed Jamal (55) also walked in months ago during a Digi table from Saamo. He can borrow a laptop through the city of Antwerp and one of the days that he can also use the internet at home. “Six months ago, I just couldn’t do anything,” Jamal says. “Now I can already look something up with Google and I know that you can call with Whatsapp. I am learning step by step. My next goal is to learn how to pay my bills online.”
Jan Verlinden is one of the volunteers of Saamo. “You will be amazed at how many problems you have with your smartphone or computer,” he says. “The fear of the digital is great. We try to work those thresholds and build trust by explaining everything calmly. And then you suddenly see it moving forward quickly.”
Ships thanks volunteers
The above can also count on support from the city of Antwerp. Alderman for Digitization, Erica Caluwaerts (Open Vld) paid a visit to Saamo on Thursday. She talked to the volunteers there in the run-up to the following week of the Volunteer. “It is important that our residents who have missed the digital train continue to help at various locations,” says Caluwaerts. “I would like to thank all volunteers, because they take on an important task.”
On Wednesday 2 March, from 5 to 6 pm, a digital information session will take place where Avansa, Saamo, Ligo and Elegast vzw will explain more about what it means to be a digital volunteer. Registration is not necessary. More information can be found at Samo’s website.