One of the goals of the Rotary Club project is to teach seniors computer skills so they can communicate with others through the Internet. Hildebrandt recounts one story of a lady at the Rotary Villa who started exchanging e-mails on a daily basis with a nephew who was working in China. Interaction between seniors and students is also a priority, as it helps to develop closer links between the two generations. Don Davis, a resident at the Rotary Villa, has donated much of his time to teaching computer skills to his fellow seniors. A self-taught computer whiz himself, Davis sees many benefits of the project, including the opening up of a new world to individuals who had never been exposed to the power of technology.
People get together to share what they've learned.
The 180 computers to be contributed by Riverview Health Centre are Pentiums, which are newer and faster than the 486s the Rotary Club has received so far. The better graphics will also be easier on the eyes of those who have vision impairments. Monday's luncheon is being held at the Rotary Villa to showcase the project in action. Riverview's donation and the efforts of the volunteers working on the project will be recognized. Afterwards, representatives from Riverview Health Centre, the Rotary Club, St. Maurice School, Winnipeg Technical College, as well as seniors who have been using the computers, will be available to answer questions.