Alessandro Borri, representing Centro Provinciale per l’Istruzione Adulti Montagna, drew attention to the stark reality of the digital divide, with a particular emphasis on gender inequalities in accessing online services. The Apennine region struggles with the disparities in digital access. Borri's insights opened a dialogue that continued with the collaboration between Lepida and the Centro Provinciale for addressing the digital literacy needs of a predominantly female and immigrant audience enrolled in adult education programs of the school. Students lacked the basic digital skills required to follow the curriculum effectively
This collaboration resulted in the ideation of the "Digitali senza Frontiere: A Guide to Inclusive Digital Literacy" pilot course, a part of the comprehensive Digi-Inclusion project. Scheduled to kick off in October, this program aimed to bridge the digital divide for women enrolled in adult education in the Appenin region. The course, conducted between October 17 and 27, 2023, within the DIGI-INCLUSION project and Festival della Cultura Tecnica framework, emerged as an example to be potentially replicated in the future as an action of the IAP..
Organized by Lepida and collaborative stakeholders, the pilot course demonstrated its effectiveness in promoting inclusive digital literacy. The success of this initiative paved the way for discussions between Lepida and the CPIA-Adult education Center on October 30, exploring the possibility of continuing the course with specific topics tailored to participant needs. In the broader context of the 2023 European Year of Skills, the festival continued its exploration of knowledge by concentrating on Sustainable Development Goal 10. Lepida actively participated in the festival, hosting an event titled "Lavoro in rete per un accesso al digitale equo esperienze nei territori per il sostegno ai cittadini" (Network Collaboration for Fair Digital Access - Experiences in the Territories to Support Citizens) on December 11, 2023, in Vergato, a town nestled in the Apennines.
The event brought together representatives from various entities, including the Regional Digital Agenda, Metropolitan City of Bologna, Lepida, local administrations, volunteer associations, and trade organizations. Discussions centered around reducing the digital divide and sharing testimonials and good practices developed in collaboration with Lepida. Representatives from Auser Bologna, Comune di Lizzano in Belvedere, Comune di Castenaso, SPI CGIL, CNA Pensionati actively contributed, sharing strategies tailored to the unique needs of individual territories.
With 27 participants, this initiative aligned seamlessly with the strategies of the Digi-Inclusion network. It played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and collective efforts to bridge digital divides and promote inclusivity in the region. The Festival della Cultura Tecnica's commitment to addressing inequalities through digitization initiatives stands as a testament to its commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive future.
