Literacy Link South Central was proud to receive funding through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada as part of their second phase of the Digital Literacy Exchange Program (DLEP). In a format similar to our Community Tech Connect project, we once again delivered basic digital literacy programming to underrepresented populations in Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk Counties, but at a much larger scale.
Through the Digitally Safe and Strong project, we delivered hundreds of hours of digital literacy programming to help people overcome fear related to using technology and the internet and to become self-assured citizens who can fully participate in the digital economy – confidently and safely. This training was offered in various formats: in-person, online, and using a hybrid of both approaches.
In support of this project, Literacy Link South Central developed new digital literacy resources, some of which were translated for use within the Francophone community as well.
To deliver this training, we worked with twelve community partners, each of whom designed digital literacy programs that best fit the needs of the people and communities they serve. Our partners included:
- ATN
- Brant Skills Centre
- Carrefour communautaire francophone London
- Conestoga College
- Fanshawe College London-Middlesex
- Fanshawe College Simcoe
- Fanshawe College St.Thomas-Elgin
- Fanshawe College Woodstock-Oxford
- Haldimand Norfolk London Learning Centres
- The Quest Centre
- Tillsonburg and District Multi-Service Centre
- YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin
These twelve partners came together regularly in a Community of Practice to identify lessons learned, support each other with ideas, and learn through coordinated professional development sessions.
We thoroughly enjoyed the program and communities we built helping many Canadians become Digitally Safe and Strong!
