WAND’s Golden Years Project is helping seniors in our community get tech‑savvy.
Over four Saturdays, 40 elderly participants, aged 60 to 88, attended a hands-on smartphone and digital skills workshop hosted at Durban University of Technology (DUT) and Meadowlands Technical High School.
The programme, spearheaded by WAND (Women’s Action for New Direction), focused on practical skills: making calls, sending messages, using WhatsApp, managing contacts, browsing the internet, and staying safe online. An ABET component, delivered by teachers and WAND Volunteers, Khatija Khalil, Amina Solomans, and Kogie Pillay, also strengthened literacy and numeracy skills.
Each participant received a Vodacom SIM card with 250MB of data per month for 12 months, allowing them to practise at home and stay connected with loved ones.
Trey Naidoo, WAND Director, said: “We want to sincerely thank Professor Ebrahim Asmal, Head of the Department of Information Technology at DUT, for lecturing, teaching, and hosting this workshop seminar for our elderly students. Your support has made this initiative possible and meaningful.”
For 88-year-old Daniel Murugan, the programme was life-changing. “Before this training, I was afraid to touch most things on my phone. Now I can send messages to my family, use WhatsApp, and look up information on my own. I feel more confident and connected,” he said.
Lecturers, pupils, and facilitators from DUT created a welcoming environment that encouraged intergenerational learning, respect, and community engagement. Their graduation ceremony, where participants will receive their certificates, is scheduled to take place at the end of March. WAND plans to continue the Golden Years Project, ensuring more seniors gain the skills and confidence to thrive in a digital world.
