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IT boot camp brings seniors, students together

SINGAPORE — He came into class thinking that he was going to teach his elderly student a thing or two about using a computer, such as moving the mouse cursor, but Kyle Yap was pleasantly surprised that his acquaintance was actually quite well-versed at using it.

Intergenerational IT bootcamp. Photo: IDA

Intergenerational IT bootcamp. Photo: IDA

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SINGAPORE — He came into class thinking that he was going to teach his elderly student a thing or two about using a computer, such as moving the mouse cursor, but Kyle Yap was pleasantly surprised that his acquaintance was actually quite well-versed at using it.

The 10-year-old Gan Eng Seng Primary School student said today (March 18): “My senior is very good with computers and knows a lot and this really surprised me. I am now trying to teach her new things.”

Kyle was one of more than 420 students, aged between 10 and 16, who signed up as volunteers to help seniors, from 50 to 90 years old, for Singapore’s largest inter-generational IT boot camp.

During the camp, the young cyberguides will guide the seniors on how to use online entertainment, such as YouTube and games, and social networking sites such as Facebook to connect with their loved ones.

The camp, which is organised by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) in collaboration with the People’s Association and participating schools, is being held over six days between March 16 and 23.

The camp will also feature, for the first time, the IDA Lab on Wheels, a roving bus that houses engaging and experiential technology, and will provide seniors with a chance to tinker and experience new things, such as 3D printing and design.

This year, 13 schools are taking part in the boot camp, which is part of the IDA’s Silver Infocomm Initiative to help senior citizens pick up basic IT skills and applications in a convenient and friendly environment.

Since 2010, a total of 62 schools have co-organised 100 boot camps and reached out to 2,000 pairs of seniors and students.

Kyle said: “I felt it would be good to stop playing games during my holiday and help the seniors and socialise with them.”

When asked about how these practical skills may help the seniors to come out of retirement and find jobs, Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, who paid a visit to two such schools running the bootcamp today, said: “That will be many steps down the road, but I think that the first step is to make sure that they are confident to explore the new technology and then, with some time they will pick up, based on their areas of interest.”

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