GLII – Ireland
Going Local 2011, Ireland: the open session on Digital Inclusion was attended by about 60 people representing a wide array of Digital Inclusion Initiatives and coming from NGOs, SMEs, public authorities, educational sector and industry
1) Citizens engagement – reaching the hardest to reach through innovative models.
Two initiatives were presented
a BenefIT government grant model and an intergenerational programme. BenefIT is reaching 100k people in its three editions, with falling per capita costs of training, creating benefits to both the individuals, government and the market (growing the customer base for delivering ICT supported public service efficiencies, new ICT based products and services customers, expanding training sector, laying foundations for digital inclusion ecosystem).
The Intergenerational project presented highlighted its benefits for both the 'trainers' (facilitates personal and professional development, enables knowledge sharing and synergy by breaking the intergenerational barriers and stereotypes) and the 'trained' (possibility to acquire new knowledge, socialise and contribute is potentially beneficial for health, independent living and social cohesion) - The BenefIT digital inclusion scheme – www.eInclusion.ie
- Case study - Dublin City University Intergenerational Learning Project http://www.dcu.ie/education_studies/ilp/index.shtml
- Google, on how ICT industry programmes can contribute to digital inclusion
http://www.youtubecom/watch?v=Bl1kmBBKuq4
Schools – digitally driven school empowering students, teachers and parents;
- “Log on Learn” – http://www.logonlearn.ie/
- Inner city school case - http://www.thedigitalhub.ie/
2) Business engagement – getting business (especially SMEs) online
- Get Irish Business On-line – Google http://www.gettingbusinessonline.ie/
- Web Activate - http://www.thedigitalhub.ie
3) Charity Sector – Technology donations & solutions and ICT skills supporting 3rd sector organisations (Enclude) http://www.enclude.ie/