IRISH GIRL GUIDE members across Ireland are teaching digital skills to older adults in their communities.

There are 60 leaders and 402 guides in the 30 total units working with older people across the country. 

A partnership with the Vodafone Foundation has resulted in girl guides helping over 2,000 older people learn new digital skills. The guides’ units host their teaching sessions in their community centres, in parish churches, in men’s and women’s sheds and active retirement groups.

The members age between 10 and 14 years old at a guide level, and 14 and 30 years old at senior branch level.

A spokesperson for Irish Girl Guides said that its members have learned about some of the barriers faced by older adults in navigating the digital landscape, and how they can help to combat social and digital isolation. 

One older participant said, “I feel more at ease, knowing that much more about my phone.”

A senior branch member from Clogherhead said their involvement in the initiative was not only good for their personal growth, but for the community as a whole.