Bridge the Gap Initiative

We organize free technology sessions where students work one-on-one with senior citizens to improve digital literacy, promoting true intergenerational interaction.

According to Eurostat, 87 percent of people aged 75 years and over have never been online and as many as 77 percent of seniors report that they would require assistance if they tried to learn how to use a smartphone or tablet. During the pandemic, these are debilitating numbers. How can seniors connect with families when they never had exposure to technology? Being an immigrant with my grandparents halfway across the world really opened my eyes to the struggles senior citizens face every single day with technology. 

This made this problem even more personal to me. Solving this problem means that seniors can feel less isolated when they are physically separated from their loved ones. It means that they can feel closer to their family while being states or even countries away. Last but not least, we teach seniors how technology can improve their quality of life, whether they want to learn a new language, play some online games, or even order groceries to their doorstep.

We mostly target technology problems through one-on-one assistance. Originally, I had actually created slideshows that we could present at various senior facilities. However, I quickly realized that without visiting the facility, we had no idea what the needs of seniors were. This led me to recruit virtual volunteers that made handouts, complete with images and senior-friendly large print. Our program model completely changed, and I recruited volunteers from nearby schools at a 1:1 volunteer to senior ratio. This allowed seniors to get individual attention from a student, helping them create a connection and get technology help that was specific to them. At the conclusion of the session, we would pass out printed copies of the handouts pertaining to what the seniors had just learned. The handouts focus on individual topics (calling, texting, Zoom, Skype, iPad Settings, etc.), allowing seniors to recall the material they learn. Once we get to a facility, we use live demonstration devices and one-on-one instruction to improve digital literacy in the older generation.

My grandparents were my inspiration behind Bridge the Gap. During the pandemic, they had trouble with online communication, but I felt helpless (as they live in India). However, I realized that there were so many seniors in my own community that I could reach and impact. What started as an idea for a school club quickly blossomed into a non-profit organization with a high demand for technology help. I had no idea how many seniors needed help until our first session at a local retirement community. We showed up with 5 volunteers, thinking that a few seniors would show up. But when we walked in, there were tables full of seniors, approximately 40 seniors, all waiting with questions. This was when I realized the potential of this organization and how many people we could truly impact. We planned for one-time sessions, but facilities invited us back for monthly sessions, a positive change in our plans. Now, it is almost hard to keep up with facility requests and we are happy to comply.

Our team's strength lies in our diversity. Our executive board includes students from 6 different states and our advisory board includes employees from T-Mobile, PNC Bank, and TCS. Regardless of their position, each of our team members volunteers directly for our organization, whether it is virtually or at our nearest chapter. 75% of our leadership team is made up of ethnic minorities and we work directly with our diversity and inclusion team to ensure that our lessons cater to every individual as our team members speak 15+ languages in total. Recently, our team has adapted all lesson plans to fit the needs of those with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. We have many national chapters, allowing us to reach seniors in a wide range of areas, each with a chapter president to oversee volunteer activities. 

When I was doing research on organizations that helped seniors with technology, I came across multiple that offered courses and sessions. However, every organization I saw offered paid classes, making it inaccessible to some seniors. My goal was not to make money, rather, to make a difference. The non-profit organizations I came across only offered virtual sessions, which raised the question: Would seniors who need help with simple technological tasks be able to log on to a Zoom meeting?" After speaking with senior facility directors nationally, I realized that seniors who could log on to Zoom meetings were a small minority in comparison to most seniors. This is why we chose an in-person model for Bridge the Gap, making all our lessons and sessions free. Additionally, one of our best features is that at the end of every session, we have an Amazon Echo Dot raffle for attending seniors. The winning senior wins the device and a volunteer helps with set-up and usage within their home. With the decreased COVID-19 precautions and restrictions, we are now facing many fewer obstacles when it comes to scheduling senior sessions. Once we train senior citizens on how to utilize their devices, we encourage them to work with undeserved children to give back to the community through our partner organization, Learn to Be. They are able to tutor students who have fallen behind due to the pandemic in a virtual environment and from the comfort of their own home. 

I know there are other organizations that attempt to bridge the intergenerational gap when it comes to technology, however, I believe that personal connection is necessary to see that change. When I was looking to volunteer with senior citizens, I could only find virtual volunteer opportunities to write them cards or letters. While that is a great start, I wanted to help them connect with their own families and learn how to use the technology they already owned. Since we have started, over 150 volunteers have volunteered 800+ hours to help over 1000 senior citizens learn 50+ topics. We have impacted 15 states and even have volunteers in Canada, the Philippines, India, and Indonesia! There are so many technological advances that directly benefit seniors, but without instruction, it is nearly impossible for the older generation to use them. From virtual pets to online communities, the options are truly endless with the improvement of digital literacy. 

Next, we hope to continue expanding our network of chapters to reach 25 states in the coming year. We also plan to continue broadening our curriculum to allow seniors to have a continued education as opposed to individualized handouts. Our education director will work on a textbook-style learning material that keeps all instruction in one place. 

Current Use

For obvious reasons, we do not use high-level or complex technology due to our target audience. However, many of our lessons revolve around the use of AI as it relates to smart-home devices. One of our first lessons involves the mastery of Google Home and Alexa devices, which we set up in the homes of many seniors free of charge. Our instruction also focuses on the use of social media and other mobile applications that we are comfortable using on a day-to-day basis.

Future Use

No matter how many senior communities we volunteer at, there is always a common denominator. They have activities and events planned down to the minute. Breakfast is followed by some water aerobics, with a bingo game right after. Seniors in retirement facilities have a packed schedule (some days might even be busier than mine). However, these living communities are not accessible to all seniors due to cost, location, etc. Especially with the pandemic, many seniors must stay within their own homes to avoid unnecessary health complications. The social isolation aspect of the pandemic is still a reality for so much of the older population and is a major contributing factor to the declining mental health of senior citizens. With this in mind, I hope to code a platform similar to a “virtual senior center” to integrate with our current curriculum for homebound seniors. Seniors unable to afford retirement communities would be able to join a 6am sunrise yoga class, meeting other wellness enthusiasts. Better yet, they could attend a 7pm couples cooking class just in time for dinner. With a small monthly subscription fee entirely that would go towards paying the instructors, I hope to create a safe and viable option for seniors to stay connected with a community from the comfort of their own home. They could schedule their own calls with others they meet on the online platform, expanding their personal network. With the support of our advisory board, I believe that I can make this vision a reality and plan to do so over the next year by using software development/mobile application development tools.

This past year, we have reached 2,000 senior citizens internationally and hope to double our impact next year to reach a total of 4,000.

Without funding to purchase more demonstration devices, it is hard to expand our network of chapters financially. Additionally, to create a "virtual senior center," there remains a knowledge barrier as many of the skills needed are not covered in a school curriculum. However, to combat this, I plan to seek external mentorship in addition to that which I receive from the advisory board members. 

Learn to Be - We train senior citizens to tutor students (on a volunteer basis) that have fallen behind during the pandemic through Zoom

The Awesome Foundation - They provided funding to support our efforts in Northeast Ohio, specifically in the Cleveland Metropolitan Area

T-Mobile - They provided us with seed funding and mentorship with the business and logistics aspect of the organization