Digital Bridges Interim Report Presented and New Stakeholder Contacts

With around 20 participants, the event titled
“Interim Review of Our European Project: Digital Bridges – Connecting Generations Through Technology”
was well attended.

The event took place as part of the Intercultural Week 2025. The invitation briefly described the project as follows:

The project aims to reduce the digital divide among senior citizens, especially among older migrants. During the first 18 months, together with our partners from the Netherlands, Austria, and Turkey, we developed a curriculum and learning modules. We are currently creating learning tutorials designed to make the use of smartphones and digital technology easily accessible.

Event overview:
WHEN: Monday, September 29, 2025, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
WHERE: MIGRApolis – House of Diversity, Brüdergasse 16–18, 53111 Bonn
TOPIC: Presentation of the project’s progress so far, including the developed curriculum and the first learning tutorials. In addition, opportunities for cooperation in the practical implementation phase were discussed.
TARGET GROUP: Interested parties and stakeholders from senior and migrant organizations, as well as everyone committed to digital education.

The project is funded by the EU / Erasmus+ / BIBB. More information is available at www.digital-bridges.eu.

Project assistant and media coach Uli Gilles presented the interim report in a PowerPoint presentation without going into organizational details. As always, the focus at the beginning was on engaging the audience:

“Please stand up now
– if you’ve used your smartphone in the last 15 minutes,
– if you are familiar with any kind of European projects,
– if you consider digital learning in retirement age important and necessary,
– if you are willing to lend me your ear for one hour.”

The attending seniors had varying levels of experience using their smartphones. As research confirms, socio-economic status plays a decisive role, along with factors such as language and social environment.

The older participants showed particular interest in topics such as safety, health, and mobility — in general: how to do things as safely and effectively as possible.

On the sidelines of the event, a contact was established with the Afghan Center in Bonn, which also expressed interest in cooperation on digital literacy issues
(www.afgscc.org). A meeting with the director, Imamudin Hamdard, was arranged.

Text: Uli Gilles, October 2, 2025