Senior citizens in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province have learned how to embrace the digital era as more than 10,000 college students were mobilized by the local government to help them understand digital technologies, local media outlets reported.

College students have been paired with senior citizens living in nearby residential communities to help them learn about 10 most frequently used services and living scenarios, such as applying for health codes, making video calls, using Alipay and WeChat Pay, making online outpatient appointments, hailing cars online, and booking train tickets.

“The number of Hangzhou residents aged 60 and above has surpassed 2 million and many of them don’t know how to use smart phones. We hope this pairing-up initiative can bring real digital benefits to the elderly,” said Zhu Shijun, an official at the local development and reform commission.

At the launch ceremony on May 25 that involved over 200 college students, Huang Shude, a 78-year-old grandmother, took just 10 minutes to learn from a volunteer from the Zhejiang University of Technology how to use car-hailing services.

“My husband needs to go to the hospital quite frequently and our children are busy with their work, so I want to learn how to hail cars on our own,” Huang said.

The pairing-up initiative will run till the end of the year and regular training will be carried out by college students at their nearby residential communities, aiming to realize the full coverage of digital services among the elderly.

Media Contact
Company Name: The Information Office of Hangzhou Municipal Government
Contact Person: Cai Jingwen
Email: Send Email
Phone: 0510-68559077
Country: China
Website: http://www.ehangzhou.gov.cn/