Being tech-savvy has no age limit - club marks tenth year

A technology club for older people based at the Digital Hub in Dublin has concluded its tenth year of classes, which included courses on Artificial Intelligence (AI), WhatsApp and scamming.

The D8 Surfers Club is a free digital programme for older learners, varying in age from 72 to 94.

There are currently 13 members.

Each week, the retirees gather to learn about technology, including online safety, emailing, texting, internet browsing and online banking.

The existence of the D8 Surfers Club was spread largely by word of mouth at community groups and local mass.

Kevin O'Kelly, who has been attending classes for almost a decade, said that they have helped him function in a world driven by technology.

"Everything we do now is computerised. We go to the bank, we use the ATM, we want to send a message to our children abroad. So all that type of stuff is very, very important."

The club helped the group feel connected with the wider world, and Mr O'Kelly said this was very important during the Covid-19 pandemic, even if it took time to get used to Zoom.

"Sure, by the time she (tutor Sonya Doherty) got us up and going, that was the two hours nearly gone and we'd about ten minutes left in the class to learn," he laughs.

Having recently completed a six-week course in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR), the group is well briefed on emerging technology.

"It's with us here now, so we have to know about it," says Anne McCusker.

"The way it can improvise your voice even, copy your voice, it's very important that you're aware of that when you get phone calls from people you don't know or don't recognise the number."

D8 Surfers Club tutors are provided by An Cosán - a registered charity that guides adults through accessible, supportive education and qualifications via The Digital Hub.

Ms Doherty has been teaching the group for nine years.

Her fondness for her students is evident, and she is there to help them when they face difficulties like scams.

"We always touch on the scam text messages because they (the students) always come in and show us that they've received a call or they received a text and they ask if it's real.

"They might not have any family at home to check, so they wait until Tuesday to come in to me and see is it a real text message or not."

The club was first established for local residents with limited exposure to the internet and communications tools.

In ten years, it has evolved into a community club, with a strong social aspect, where participants are guided in how digital technologies benefit them in their everyday lives.

Elizabeth Barrett recalls a recent conversation with fellow members about clubs.

"We were saying, you try lots of things when you retire and the good ones you stick with. This is one of the good ones."

At 94, Mary Kwadjo is the oldest member of the D8 Surfers Club.

What she has learned over the last ten years has enabled her to stay in contact with loved ones abroad.

"I have people in Australia, America and so on. I do write to them and tell them how I'm getting on, text them and email them and so forth," she said.

To much laughter from her fellow club members, she also admitted they attended the club for the tea, coffee and cakes provided by The Digital Hub.

The class of 2025 was in unison regarding their positive experience, and agreed that similar schemes should be available nationwide because it has helped their wellbeing.

Digital Hub CEO Fiach Mac Conghail views the ten-year anniversary as a milestone.

"It is wonderful to see some of the participants that joined in the early days of The D8 Surfers Club are still attending every Tuesday at our Learning Studio, which is a testament to the value of this programme, its tutor and its social aspect."

Ten years on, as technology has evolved, so too has the D8 Surfers Club, where friendships have grown beyond the digital world.