Many Ukrainians do not have access to digital services due to lack of skills. Ukraine: UNDP helps older people develop digital skills Culture and education
More and more information and services are moving into the digital space. For most people, this is already a normal, everyday occurrence – but not for everyone. Many older Ukrainians and representatives of other vulnerable groups lack digital literacy skills. In addition to the lack of access to information and services, this creates problems for them at work.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) shares stories of Ukrainians who have undergone special training in digital education centers that operate in local libraries.
Digital technologies for doctors
Galina is a 61-year-old nurse from the Cherkasy region. As healthcare institutions increasingly switch to electronic platforms, digital skills are becoming increasingly important for staff. However, Galina hardly used a computer, and only used her smartphone to call her loved ones or check her Facebook feed. Therefore, despite her significant experience, she was afraid of losing her job.
She was very inspired when she saw an announcement on a social network about the opening of a digital education center in the local library, where everyone could take special courses. Soon she began to master new technologies.
Due to her busy work schedule, Galina attended individual trainings at the village library for four months. With the support of the coordinator, she learned basic skills using a special platform.
In addition, Galina was given access to a program for doctors. This turned out to be more difficult: it was necessary to study the material on her own and consult with a specialist over the phone. But Galina managed to successfully complete the training. Now she advises all her colleagues to take these courses, and some of them have already listened to this recommendation.
“You should never be ashamed of the fact that you do not know something or that your knowledge is not enough for the job,” said Galina. “You should always strive for your goal, even when the path is long and difficult. After all, there are always those who are ready to come to the rescue and share their knowledge.” Keeping up with the times Lyubov, a 55-year-old nurse from the city of Gadyach in the Poltava region, lost her job, which she had held for many years. She found another position, but she wanted to work in her specialty. And for this, basic computer skills were required.
Her daughter offered to help, but she didn’t have enough time, and it was difficult for Lyubov to master technologies on her own. Then her friends recommended courses at the Lesya Ukrainka Gadyach Public Library.
Galina began to learn the basics: what a computer consists of, how to turn it on, how to use a mouse and keyboard, what a desktop looks like. Then she gradually moved on to learning software. The main task was typing and working with the Microsoft Word text editor. When Lyubov could already perform various practical tasks, she also took courses on internet safety.
The classes lasted two hours, and Lyubov always carried a notebook with her and wrote everything down. Despite the difficulties, she achieved her goal in just a month.
Lyubov highly appreciated the training experience: “I would advise other people who do not have computer or smartphone skills but want to acquire them not to be shy and ask the center’s staff for help.”
New Employment Opportunities
56-year-old Andrey from Berdichev in the Zhytomyr region also lost his job due to a lack of digital skills. He learned about digital literacy courses from a friend who visited the local library and asked for help.
His individual lessons, held twice a week, lasted from June to October 2023. Andrey became confident in using a computer, learning to create Word documents, presentations, work with Excel tables, and email. He was then able to use all his new skills to write a resume and send it to potential employers.
Andrey was able to expand his job search. Almost immediately, he began to be invited to interviews, and by the end of 2023, Andrey was employed.
Modern Skills for Teachers
Valentina from Alexandria, Kirovograd region, is a biology and chemistry teacher with over 20 years of experience. She is accustomed to traditional teaching methods, but maintaining the interest of students without the use of new technologies was becoming increasingly difficult. Valentina took various courses, but she lacked practice.
Central Library in Oleksandria, Kirovograd Oblast.
She took specialized courses at the library and participated in trainings organized for teachers. Now she can create an exciting game to reinforce the material, and students enjoy her lessons, which have become more interactive. This is especially important given that because of the war, schoolchildren often have to study remotely.
“In almost two years of study, I have gained a lot of knowledge and self-confidence. I know what my students want in class, and I can interest them, and this is the most important thing for me in my work,” Valentina said.
Access to important information
Olga Matvienko from the village of Mayachka in the Poltava region is a family nurse. She has always been interested in computer technology, but lacked the skills. She says that she was a passive user. This became a problem as the medical field became digital.
Having learned about the courses on the local library’s social media page, Olga turned to them for help. With the support of the center’s coordinator, she started with the simplest tasks, such as creating documents and searching for information. Then she took a digital literacy course for the elderly.
Olga learned how to use email and create Viber groups. This makes it easier for her to communicate with colleagues and patients. She also found online courses on medical topics that helped her improve her professional skills. Now she can find information on medical news, treatment, and a healthy lifestyle.
She also learned how to work with the information system for healthcare institutions and the patient portal. Moreover, Olga met users with similar interests with whom she can share experiences.
Professional skills
Seventy-year-old Petr Malinich from the city of Lubny in the Poltava region received a law degree, but no longer worked in his specialty. Back in 2017, he began attending group computer literacy classes for seniors at the V. Malyka Lubny Library. And when he learned that a digital education center had opened there, he immediately signed up for individual courses.
In addition, he completed a number of special programs for lawyers, such as how to use open data and remote work tools.
Today, Petr uses his new skills to stay up to date with changes in legislation, advise internally displaced persons and representatives of low-income or vulnerable groups, help people prepare documents and applications, check accruals, pension payments and subsidies. He has already helped several citizens win cases in court.
“Online services are, first and foremost, convenience and time saving,” Petr noted. “Many tasks can be solved using digital skills. I would advise people my age not to be afraid to learn new things, not to be afraid that something will not work out, that they will not be able to do something. You can! You just need to overcome your fear and try. I hope I will be an example for them.”
Choosing a future profession
In times of war, due to the unstable situation, issues of employment, advanced training, or acquiring a new profession are very important. Therefore, the digital education center in the library of the city of Rozhyshche, Volyn region, launched new programs that help people with these issues.
Read also: Better than before: the consequences of war and the path to restoring the Ukrainian economy In the summer of 2023, the institution organized courses for young mothers on the topic of “Employment and professional development regardless of age.” One of the participants, Alexandra, moved from the Luhansk region with her young daughter after the start of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. She and another participant in the classes, Maria, decided to become teachers. Now Alexandra and Maria are students of the pedagogical faculty of the Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University.
Digital Education Centers in Libraries
Some of the heroes of these stories took courses as part of a joint project of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ukrainian Library Association and UNDP in Ukraine to promote the development of Digital Education Centers. The main goal of the project, which was financed with the support of Sweden, is to enable as many people as possible to become tech literate so that digital services are available to all Ukrainians.