Successful Spanish pilot of the Erasmus+ project GANYMED

The crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic made it clear to European countries how important the competent use of digital tools and media is for our society. With the required social distancing, virtual communication channels, such as videoconferencing and synchronous and asynchronous cooperation, have gained enormous relevance and have become crucial for the social integration of people in times of crisis.

The vast majority of people living in Europe use these tools effectively, both in their professional and private lives. However, one group of the population has been particularly affected and continues to be excluded from digital communication channels: the elderly and people with disabilities. Often, these people are unable to use current media and communication channels, which has negative consequences for the integration of this group in society.

The European project GANYMED has addressed this issue by seeking to promote the digital inclusion of older people through training and access to technological tools. The partners of this initiative, co-financed by the European Commission, carried out various workshops and training activities during the month of May in the countries participating in the project (Germany, Italy and Spain).

The Spanish pilot organized by CETEM was a great success thanks to the close collaboration of the Poncemar Foundation and the Chair of Gerontology of the University of Murcia. More than 14 users of the Foundation’s Day Centre took part in the workshop on 17 May in the city of Lorca. This activity gave the participants the opportunity to learn about the use of electronic devices, mobile applications and online tools thanks to the platform developed in the framework of GANYMED.

The project has paved the way for future digital inclusion initiatives and demonstrated that the generation gap in the use of technology can be significantly reduced through adapted educational programs thanks to Geragogy, the science that focuses on the pedagogy of old age through the use of gerontology.

This Erasmus+ initiative started in 2020 and although the context has changed since the project started in the midst of the pandemic, it has demonstrated the desire of older people to acquire digital skills and not be left behind in the digital age. With this in mind, the GANYMED project still has a long way to go even though this initiative is coming to an end.

This project has counted with the participation of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT, coordinator), Karlsruhe University of Education (PH, Germany), International Centre for the Promotion of Education and Development (CEIPES, Italy), Inercia Digital (INERCIA, Spain) and the Centro Tecnológico del Mueble y la Madera de la Región de Murcia (CETEM, Spain).

For more information, you can visit their website

GANYMED