Kohesio: discover EU projects in your region

project info
Start date: 1 April 2024
End date: 31 December 2024
funding
Fund: European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
Total budget: 83 928,00 €
EU contribution: 71 338,80 € (85%)
programme
Programming period: 2021-2027
European Commission Topic
European Commission Topic

Digital Activity Zone - development of digital skills and social competences of people 50+

The city of Olsztyn is the capital of the warm.-maz voivodship. It is a major economic, educational and cultural centre, as well as a railway and road junction. The central city of the Olsztyn agglomeration. The largest city in Warmia. According to the data of the Central Statistical Office at the end of XII. In 2022, the population of Olsztyn was 156 340 people (84 660 K and 71 680 M). According to GUS data for 2022, the number of people aged 50-69 years amounted to 41 669 people (23119 K,18550 M), while the 70+ group amounted to 23 218 people (14794K and 8424 M). Seniors make up 41.5% of the total population of Olsztyn. According to the data, among the inhabitants of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodship, in the age group over 50, women prevailed, there were just over 10 thousand more of them. By far the biggest difference occurred in the age group over 70+ in which women were more than 6370 more than men. We are dealing here with the so-called phenomenon of feminization of old age (according to GUS data for 2022, the feminization rate in Olsztyn is 115K per 100M). Statistically, K live longer than M, therefore, due to various factors, especially in the 70+ group, women are exposed to loneliness (widowhood, lack of loved ones), and thus social isolation and marginalization. Loneliness is one of the biggest problems of advanced age. Described as a modern civilization disease, it affects seniors for various reasons. Sometimes it is a consequence of past choices, it is associated with retirement, in many cases it is a consequence of the death of a spouse or the emancipation of children. The problem for older people remains the weakening of family ties and the lack of people-to-people contacts, which leads to the slow disappearance of social skills, alienation. The effects of loneliness can be different: depression, lowering self-esteem, self-absorption or distrust of others are just some of them. Therefore, the remedial and at the same time preventive action is to include older people in the participation in various social, cultural or educational activities, which, in addition to self-development, give a chance to establish interpersonal relationships, increase social competences, open up to other people and solutions, get out of their shell, break the boredom and monotony of everyday life, thus preventing their exclusion and marginalization. The applicant, in close cooperation with the Warmia and Mazury University of the Third Age in Olsztyn, based on interviews conducted among seniors as well as social workers of MOPS in Olsztyn, identified problems and barriers in this group in the field of basic skills. Due to age, low income, chronic illness or mobility problems, older people often do not find themselves in a world of fast-growing digital technologies. They do not have basic knowledge and skills of using computer equipment, the Internet, smartphones, applications, social profiles, instant messaging. They do not cope with online shopping, the use of online platforms. Due to the low level of elementary knowledge in the field of safe use of the Internet, personal data protection, they are constantly exposed to various types of fraud. They do not know how to use mobile applications, facilitating everyday functioning, helping to maintain good physical condition, helping to live economically against excessive consumerism, taking care of the natural environment in everyday life, including the eco-use of computer equipment and phone. The low level of these skills excludes them not only digitally but also socially, often professionally, making it difficult to contact loved ones and engage in activities in various spheres of life that keep them in a good emotional, mental and physical state. Further description in additional information

Flag of Poland  Olsztyński, Poland