1.6 million people in the Netherlands do not know how to use a computer. Computerwijk can help; we offer accessible computer courses in people’s own neighbourhood. 

Courses offered by Computerwijk are led by trained volunteers; they share their computer skills in a personal way, during which the contact between people living in the area is as important as acquiring computer skills. By doing so, we do not only boost the self confidence and chances of the participants, but at the same time, the courses contribute to a more pleasant neighbourhood with a stronger solidarity.

Computerwijk has already shown more than 4000 people the way in the digital world. 65% of our course participants are older than 65 years, 40% are of foreign origin and 75% are women. More than 100 trained volunteer teachers are involved. In 2011, Computerwijk will grow to 67 locations in 15 cities and approximately 250 volunteer teachers will train over 2000 residents living in urban districts, making the courses easily accessible, in a safe and pleasant environment.

Computers and Internet have become vital
Nearly 10% of the people in the Netherlands do not know how to use a computer, which means that they cannot or can barely make use of all the opportunities offered by computers and the Internet. Training and education, or finding a job, become more and more difficult if you cannot work with a computer. And can you imagine what it what it would be like if you could not use email or Internet banking? Not being able to use the Internet also means financial losses: you cannot check prices on sites comparing shops and you are not able to buy cheaply online.

Research has shown that even simple computer skills result in a financial benefit of nearly 100 Euro a year, which accumulates to hundreds of Euros if people are more confident in using the Internet. Especially senior citizens, people with little education, the unemployed and people with a foreign background often miss the skills required to use a computer.

Computerwijk can help!
Computerwijk offers people the chance to learn how to use a computer. However, during the Computerwijk courses people learn much more than just computer skills; they participate in a course together with other residents from their neighbourhood, meeting new people and gaining self confidence. Often, their course certificate is the first diploma they have ever gained. The computer offers possibilities for personal development, gives access to information, and provides opportunities for education, work and acquiring social contacts. This results in benefits for everybody; the participant in the first place, but the neighbourhood profits as well and in the end society as a whole.

Computerwijk: courses for the neighbourhood, by people from that neighbourhood
Courses offered by Computerwijk are easily accessible and are given by trained volunteers, who live in the area. They share their computer skills in a personal way, during which the contact between people living in the neighbourhood is as important as acquiring computer skills. The participants share an interest for the computer, but their origin, background and religion are very diverse. During the course, they often meet for the first time, something that otherwise would barely happen. This is how the courses not only enhance the self confidence and chances of the participants, but lead also to a more pleasant neighbourhood with a stronger solidarity. The Computerwijk courses offer ample room for personal attention and provide a safe learning environment in which participants are encouraged to develop themselves. Computerwijk makes use of familiar locations and organisations which already reach the target group, making our courses easily accessible and available. 

Our teachers lie at the heart of Computerwijk
The volunteer teachers work according to the train the trainer principle. Participants who complete the full curriculum can become a teacher and this method leads to a broad diversity of teachers: mothers, sometimes of foreign origin, working younger people, and senior citizens. These people lie at the heart of Computerwijk and they are supported with professional attention, support and facilities.

Computerwijk: a total concept
The Computerwijk Foundation is an organisation without profit motives. It offers a total concept in which residents from a neighbourhood can develop themselves and learn how to participate in society. We work with local partners, who apply our working method and with whom we enter into a partnership agreement. We support the partner during a pilot project and if this is successfully completed, we seek together for structural subsidies and/or sponsorships. Subsequently the local partner will work independently using the Computerwijk method, and will account for this to Computerwijk. Computerwijk safeguards the further development of the method and gives support regarding publicity, teaching material, software and finding financial resources.