Organiser: Apip-Acam Foundation.
Collaborating organisations: Ramon Molinas Foundation and Barcelona Council.
Dates of implementation: 01/09/2015 – 30/09/2016.
The digital world for integration, a project working towards reducing the digital divide of groups at risk of social exclusion
The Ramon Molinas Foundation is renewing for a third year its collaboration with the Apip-Acam Foundation, with the aim of providing training in information and communication technology to alleviate the digital divide of groups at risk of social exclusion. The scheme, which is a continuation of the programme developed last year, will provide accredited training in computer skills thanks to the E-citizen and ECDL programmes.
E-citizen is a programme designed to teach the basic skills required to be able to use a personal computer. The aim of the programme is to ease user participation into an information-based society in a productive and responsible way, and stimulate personal and professional growth. E-citizen provides training in researching information, sending and receiving emails, online transactions, security and social networks, among others.
The ECDL certificate programme, on the other hand, is designed for people with some experience in the world of information technology and who want their skills to be formally recognised. ECDL defines the knowledge and skills necessary to utilise the most common computer applications, providing flexible training by adapting the programme modules to the personal needs and interests of each user. The programme is made up of seven modules: foundations of computer studies, foundations of online application, word processors, spreadsheets, presentations, databases and security.
E-citizen and ECDL work in 150 countries and a total of 14 million users have benefited from the programmes. The accreditations were created in 1999 thanks to an initiative of the European Advisory of the Associated Information Technology Professionals (CEPIS) and are managed by the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL).
500 people in unemployment lacking computer skills will benefit from the scheme
Thanks to the two previous schemes, the collaboration between the Ramon Molinas Foundation and the Apip-Acam Foundation resulted in the training of 160 people. This year, with support from the Barcelona town council, it is estimated that the programme will train 500 people and will be implemented in 12 municipalities in the province of Barcelona.
The digital world for integration and computer skills training is a programme designed for people in unemployment who lack computer skills. Those to participate in the scheme will be selected by the social services of each of the participating municipalities: Barcelona, l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Igualada, Manresa, Martorell, Molins de Rei, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Joan de Vilatorrada, Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Sant Vicenç dels Horts and Vilafranca del Penedès. The 42 courses will provide the participants with office skills that will be invaluable for their social and labour integration.
The Apip-Acam Foundation, fighting the digital divide
The Apip-Acam Foundation was created with the union of two associations: Apip and Acam. The two organisations, with over 25 years of experience, decided to consolidate their work by creating a foundation in order to increase their potential and professional network.
The organisation is committed to social causes and supports individuals and families in need, either socio-economic or with physical or intellectual dependence. One of its areas of work is to reduce the digital divide of people at risk of social exclusion. By encouraging education in information and communications technology the organisation hopes to promote the social and labour integration of this group.
The digital divide, risking social exclusion
The digital divide puts many groups at risk of social exclusion. The term ‘digital divide’ refers to the socio-economic difference between the groups which have access to new information and communication technology, and those who do not. The objective of the Ramon Molinas Foundation in this area of social action is to overcome this obstacle, above all in those groups that are already affected by a physical, economic or social limitation, i.e. those who suffer from a double social exclusion.
The project’s aim is to reduce the digital divide through implementing programmes which teach modern information and communication technology in order to provide people with the skills and tools required to ensure social and labour integration.
In Spain, the presence of the digital divide is undeniable. One study “on the equipment and use of new technology in the home[3]” published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) in 2014 revealed that around 10% of Spanish homes did not make use of the internet because its inhabitants did not have the necessary knowledge, and 15% did not have connection due to the high costs of installation and price plans of internet providers.
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