Digital Confidence Builders: Promoting Financial and Social Sustainability through Skills Development TSUULL’s Digital Skills and Literacy Program not only reduces the digital divide for senior community members but also provides structured support that enables them to participate in financially and socially sustainable initiatives. While older adults are not typically the primary group for business start-ups, the program equips them with foundational competencies that directly contribute to economic resilience, financial independence, and improved community participation.
How the Program Supports Financially & Socially Sustainable Development
Through tailored digital education, TSUULL helps senior citizens: - • Gain essential digital operational skills (smartphones, computers, tablets), enabling them to independently manage communication and online activities relevant to personal and small-scale business tasks.
- • Develop digital communication competencies (email, messaging apps, video calls), which are crucial for engaging with service providers, family members, community organizations, and potential support networks for micro-entrepreneurial initiatives.
- • Access online public services such as medical portals, pension information, utility payments, and municipal services—skills that significantly reduce time and financial burdens and help them participate more fully in local economic life.
- • Enhance online security awareness, including password protection, scam avoidance, and detection of misinformation—critical elements for safely navigating digital environments and protecting personal finances.
- • Build digital financial literacy, such as operating ATMs, using online banking tools, making secure digital payments, and managing personal transactions.
Outcome Although the older generation is not traditionally the main target for entrepreneurial programs, the skills they developed form the foundation for financial sustainability, improved decision-making, and potential engagement in micro-enterprises or family-run businesses.
These outcomes demonstrate TSUULL’s commitment to supporting local communities not only through education but also through inclusive, socially responsible capacity-building initiatives aligned with long-term sustainable development goals. | | Contribution to Sustainable Micro-Entrepreneurship and Community Empowerment By gaining these skills, older adults:
• Increase their economic independence, enabling them to manage household finances more effectively and reduce reliance on intermediaries.
• Acquire competencies that can support small-scale income-generating activities, such as online selling, digital communication with customers, or participation in community-based microbusiness projects.
• Strengthen their social inclusion, allowing them to stay connected to community organizations, participate in local initiatives, and contribute to collective well-being.
• Build confidence to engage in modern digital ecosystems, which is essential for participating in or supporting financially and socially sustainable ventures. University-Level Support Mechanisms TSUULL, as an institution, provides:
• Training workshops tailored to diverse digital needs;
• Mentorship-style guidance from instructors, helping older adults apply their new skills in everyday life and small-scale economic activities;
• Access to university facilities, including computer labs and open learning hubs, enabling participants to practice digital operations independently;
• Community-integrated learning spaces, which foster interaction, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing across generations. | APPLY NOW | KEY IMPACT2024 | CAMPUS FREE MEAL SPOTS | POLICY |
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