Digital participation for older generations
Logistics service provider FIEGE regularly donates used IT equipment to social institutions in the Münsterland region. The more than 150-year-old family business, which is based in Greven in Westphalia, has now handed over seven laptops to the "Senioren am Netz" internet café at the “Begegnungszentrum Ibbenbüren” community centre.
For many young people, a world without digital media is simply unimaginable. Often referred to as digital natives, they have grown up with computers, smartphones and the Word Wide Web. For older generations, the situation is slightly different. They experienced the digital revolution first-hand before the turn of the millennium and with it the radical changes that the new technologies brought about in many areas of life.
Due to the advancing digitalisation of our society, it is also important for older people to be able to use new media. For this reason, the “Begegnungszentrum Ibbenbüren” association launched the "Senioren ans Netz" internet café back in 2000. The aim of the initiative is to provide people over the age of 60 with helpful tips and tricks for using computers. Ralf-Henning Künnemeyer, who is responsible for the internet café, explains: "We meet in small groups of no more than six participants and deal with topics such as the internet, e-mail communication, data sorting and backing up, word processing, spreadsheets, and creating photo books. However, we also like to pick up on current topics and then offer special sessions, such as for the Deutsche Bahn app or video calls. This is becoming increasingly difficult with our old devices."
Handing over the donation at the FIEGE headquarters in Greven (from left to right): Frank Sievers, Board Member of the Josef Fiege Foundation, presented seven laptops to Philipp Meck, head of the integration agency and employment advice centre at the Begegnungszentrum Ibbenbüren, and Ralf-Henning Künnemeyer, head of the "Senioren ans Netz’" internet café. (Photo: FIEGE)
To promote digital participation in society, FIEGE has donated seven discarded laptops to the “Begegnungszentrum Ibbenbüren”. The devices are in perfect condition but are no longer used in the offices of the logistics service provider. "We are very grateful for FIEGE's donation, which will help us to further expand the courses in our internet café. Our task is not only to introduce older people to modern communication technology. We also serve as a leisure activity and, last but not least, as an opportunity for personal contact," says Künnemeyer. In addition, the offer enables the participants to stay in touch with family members and friends who live further away via digital media – which is particularly important in a rural area such as the Münsterland region.
The refurbishment and handover of the notebooks was coordinated by the Josef Fiege Foundation, which was established by the Greven-based family business almost 30 years ago to fulfil its responsibility towards the environment and society. Frank Sievers, who together with Martina Schlottbom, Christoph Mangelmans and Kai Alfermann forms the board of the Josef Fiege Foundation, explains: "We are delighted to be able to support the important work of the “Begegnungszentrum Ibbenbüren” with our donation and to help improve digital participation among older generations. And by passing on disused IT equipment, we have also found a great solution for reuse in line with our sustainability principles."
