Let’s get Digital Project benefits women using Whats App, iPhones and iPads

“I WAS taken aback by people getting in touch, I hadn’t known they had. It was great to know”.

So says Anne O’Hanlon, Clondalkin, a participant in the HiDigital programme which was run over the last eight weeks in the Quarryvale Community Centre.

Anne’s partner, Noel O’Connor passed away last May. “They were showing us how to use the RIP website, I was surprised. I never used to be able to use it. I would’ve asked my daughter to do it before, if someone died,” said Anne.

The Clondalkin lady really enjoyed the programme. “There were a lot of things explained, I can do things myself now, I’m not having to ask the grandkids,” said Anne.

Like many Anne felt a little overwhelmed when using smartphones first. “My daughter got me an Apple iPhone, I found that difficult, so someone said to me ‘try Samsung’ so now I’m using Samsung all the time,” said Anne.

There were many real-life benefits for the ladies who participated on the course. “I was able to register to vote online, I am able to send an email, I am able to use online services.

I find Google maps very interesting,” said Anne, who can also do her banking and check her tax online now.  “I was afraid before to change the settings, now I’m not afraid because I know it always stays on the phone. I’m delighted with myself,” said Anne.

Keeping connected with family is also very important to Anne, especially as she lives alone.

Participants of the Quarryvale HiDigital programme with their certificates in Vodafone HQ

“We had the family WhatsApp group, I knew about that, but I didn’t know you could ring a person on WhatsApp,” said Anne. She also has an ipad at home that she uses to go on you-tube to know how to do things and how not to do things.

“With the help of Grace I was able to locate old photos I had on it of family members who had passed on,” said Anne.

The eleven ladies from Quarryvale have been working weekly since January with digital champions Dr Grace Lawlor and Megan McGuirk from the Let’s Get Digital Project in partnership with South Dublin County Partnership and Microsoft.

“Grace is a great teacher, down to earth, she was excellent,” said Anne.

Similarly Grace has really enjoyed working with the ladies on the programme, which is run by Vodafone and developed by Vodafone Foundation, in partnership with ALONE.

“Teaching the course has made my life better,” said Grace.

On Tuesday March 26, the ladies from Quarryvale in Clondalkin paid a visit to Vodafone HQ in Leopardstown to celebrate their completion of the Hi Digital programme.