High schoolers helped local seniors with technology Tuesday at the Benjamin Gaither Center, a senior center in Gaithersburg.
“There is a gap in knowledge with technology and there’s an opportunity to have younger individuals teach what they know, and they know naturally, to those who really need those extra skills,” said Leah Bradley, executive director of Montgomery County-based nonprofit Empowering the Ages.
The free tech support is part of the “CyberMasters” program under the nonprofit. The project is funded by a grant from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). During the sessions, seniors receive one-on-one support for any kind of tech questions.
“As an example, I’ve helped someone get into a computer, that they got locked out of. We helped him change his password,” said Carlos Stephens, 12th grader at Gaithersburg High School. “A lot of general questions about settings with iPhones, computers.”
Gaithersburg resident Jayasheela Bethepu said the program is helpful to people like her who are not versed in technology. She said the students “are very helpful in giving us the right answers… so we can understand and get along.”
“They have some really insightful, some real-life experiences. They help me learn, as well as I’m helping them learn,” said Charles Che, 12th grader at Gaithersburg High School.
Tuesday was this fall’s final session for the program, which was new this year. Sessions were held at Bohrer Park and at the Benjamin Gaither Center.
Bradley hopes to continue the program.
