Domna Michailidou: Digital knowledge is a tool for autonomy and equal participation

The visit was attended by the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, the Mayor of Vrilissia, Ioannis Psimisis, and the Deputy Mayor of Digital Governance and Innovation, Adam Asimakopoulos.

The Minister spoke with the beneficiaries participating in the two sections of the Digital Empowerment Hub for the Elderly, which operates at the Vrilissia KAPI. The participants talked about their experience, the skills they acquire and how familiarization with new technologies facilitates their daily life.

The program is addressed to citizens over 65 years old and to people with disabilities. It aims to acquire basic digital skills so that beneficiaries can communicate, navigate safely on the internet, use digital public services such as gov.gr, and carry out electronic transactions with greater autonomy and confidence.

The Minister of Social Cohesion and Family said: “Today, in Vrilissia, we saw in practice what digital empowerment means. It is not a theoretical programme. It is people learning to use tools that make their everyday life simpler, so that they can communicate, be informed, do business, use public services safely and confidently. The programme is designed to respond to a new form of inequality: Digital. Today, access to digital knowledge is not a luxury. It is a prerequisite for participation in modern daily life. We want our older citizens and people with disabilities to have the tools they need to move with more autonomy, dignity and confidence.”

The Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance stressed: “The implementation of programmes such as the Digital Education and Empowerment of Older People and People with Disabilities, which I note is funded by European funds, is another practical proof of the priority that the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis gives to reducing inequalities and improving the daily life of our fellow citizens, especially older people and people with disabilities. All the more so in our time when digital tools are now indispensable in our lives. Similar social cohesion programmes can and are becoming a reality thanks to the measurable result of a strong economy, but also thanks to our strategic choice to return the dividend of growth to society on a permanent basis. We accelerate the implementation of our commitments for the Greece we deserve.”

The Municipality of Vrilissia operates a Digital Empowerment Hub for the Elderly, with two training departments. The courses take place twice a week at the Municipality’s Cultural Centre.