Citizen Engagement Programme (CEP)

The NCB has been implementing the Citizen Engagement Programme (CEP) since 2018 which comprises of a free ICT Awareness Training for Senior Citizens based on social media; Facebook and online communication tools such as Skype, WhatsApp & others, in a bid to democratize access to latest technologies.

The NCB in collaboration with the Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity and the National Citizens’ Council, offers the course in its Cyber Caravans at the premises of three recreational centers namely; Dr James Burty David Recreational (JBD) Centre at Pointe aux Sables, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) Recreational Centre at Belle-Mare and Lady Sushil Ramgoolam (LSR) Recreation Centre at Pointe Aux Piments.

The programme is aimed to initiate some 2,500 senior citizens on ICT training since Budgets 2018-2019 & 2019-2020.

Objectives

The objective of this programme is to reduce the risks of exclusion from social, economic and cultural life, and support them in their daily welfare through the frequent uses of ICTs among their community. Through this course, the latter are able to access the numerous digital services and facilities easily available nowadays.

It is an undeniable fact that our senior citizens are still able to acquire and develop a wide range of knowledge and skills with regard to ICT that would make them feel confident and adequately prepared in the current digital era. The empowerment of required ICT skills on the latest technologies by the senior citizens has thus become fundamental in this modern age since it will enable them to become full-fledged ICT literate citizens.

This ICT training programme geared towards senior citizens is undoubtedly helping them develop their digital capabilities while having access to ICT tools and the net. This allows them to keep up-to-date on latest news and current events, play brain-stimulating games, and making simple researches for information on topics ranging from medical concerns to travels and healthy recipes. Email facilities and Social Media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc help seniors stay in touch with their peers and family members.

Online communication tools like Skype, WhatsApp, Viber and Apple FaceTime allow our seniors to actually interact with friends and loved ones who may be living far away.

Training Programme

This training programme has been mounted such that senior citizens can derive maximum digital benefits and can eventually survive in a knowledge-based society with confidence. The programme laid emphasis on the use of social media facilities like Facebook for social networking and other communicational tools like WhatsApp and Messenger. Senior citizens are taught the necessary precautions when shopping online on e-commerce platforms specially when effecting cashless payments via internet banking, mobile banking, e-wallets or credit cards.

Following this training, Senior Citizens are given the added opportunity to enroll themselves, at no cost, in the 45-hour IC3 programme under the Universal ICT Education Programme (UIEP) at the NCB.

The following topics are taught in the training for Senior Citizens:

  • Basics of the internet
  • Getting started on browser
  • Understanding hardware and software
  • Creation & use of email
  • Browsing the internet to access YouTube
  • Reading news online
  • Online banking
  • Mobile banking
  • Online purchase through credit cards and e-wallets
  • Accessing government portal & citizen support portal
  • Securing online identity
  • Privacy & security issues
  • Downloading and using Mobile Apps
  • Social media and communication tools

Achievements

As at date

0

senior citizens have benefited from this programme:

  • 2019-2020: 1,731 senior citizens
  • 2018-2019: 455 senior citizens