<< Background >>Covid19 has accelerated the digitisation of every aspect of our lives. We’ve been forced into sudden digital usage in education and work, access to social networks, health services, cultural activities, banking and shopping. Our increasingly digital world has the potential to leave behind the most vulnerable of society. The inability to engage with digital media can accentuate disadvantage and exclusion for those with fewer opportunities. This is particularly evident among senior adults, migrants and refugees, even young people where a lack of digital skills is synonymous with social isolation and loss of autonomy. Rather than combating digital exclusion by more simply offering more digital opportunities, BESTIE will offer the most natural and socially beneficial method: community-based exchange in creating human interpersonal connections! The partner organisations will use the project to create the digital inclusion learning environments in their own organisations and develop digital and social skills of their own staff.ADULT EDUCATORS While some programmes have been developed to assist vulnerable community members to improve their digital skills, the pandemic has accelerated the speed of change and the need to help our at-risk groups is greater than ever before. To complicate issues, the social distancing rules and economic downturn caused by the pandemic now mean that when the need is greatest, many adult learning community centres are working with reduced staff and limited physical capacity. SENIORS (adults of 60+ years) Europe is ageing fast, and in the same vein, digitization is moving very quickly into citizens' routines. Our seniors are the largest group of citizens who are info-excluded. This reality is worrying because it will quickly make them socially excluded (Source: MEDCRAVE). BESTIE will benefit seniors with few opportunities to acquire the digital skills for better functioning in ever increasing digital world, as well as by developing social ties to the community, overcoming threats of loneliness and exclusion.MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES The pandemic has made displaced persons more vulnerable than ever with refugee and migrant communities suffering from the deterioration of their economic situation and lack of social connections in their new communities. The digital skillset of migrants & refugees is varied and greatly depends on their understanding of their new community’s language and access to learning pathways. Even when their digital competencies are high, digital exclusion of migrants and refugees still happens. Differences in the system in which their digital skills are now applied when combined with difficulties with the new language and a decrease in the accessibility to the digital world mean that they too experience digital exclusion.BESTIE will benefit migrants & refugees in two ways (i) by taking both roles of learners, they improve their digital competencies and social links, (ii) and mentors with advanced digital skills will. They will establish new befriending ties and links to the community, thus advancing their inclusion and integration processes and securing overall wellbeing.YOUNG PEOPLE -Particularly vulnerable because of Covid19 impact, across the EU, 49% of young people have their working hours reduced, over 23% lost their jobs and 50% are at risk of depression (SOURCE: EKCYP). While vulnerable in many ways, young people often have developed digital competencies. In 2019, 4 in 5 young people (80%) aged 16-24 in the European Union (EU) had basic or above basic digital skills. This was 24% higher than the share of individuals aged 16-74 (56%) (EUROSTAT). Young people will benefit by building their communication skills, leadership and mentorship skills, acquiring a reputation as educators and community support implementors, as well as build their networks and boost their confidence, which leads to better employment prospect in the future and better links to the community.<< Objectives >>The BESTIE - Befriending for Social and Digital Inclusion project will evoke cooperation within the community on an intergenerational basis, bringing together seniors, migrants and young people, with the help of adult educators, to overcome the digital and social exclusion of these groups, by allowing them to work together on bridging key skills gaps. It responds to a horizontal priority of Inclusion and Diversity, and 2 Adult education priorities: Improving the availability of high-quality learning opportunities for adults and Developing forward-looking learning centres.OBJECTIVE - BESTIE will provide a fresh and innovative model of cross fertilization of digital and social skills for three vulnerable groups: senior citizens, migrants/refugees and young people. Through a set of innovative, participatory, easy to access and inspirational Project Results, we will utilise communities’ strengths and opportunities to overcome weaknesses and threats in the social and digital inclusion sphere. We will also upskill adult educators to deliver digital skills education resources to adult learners. Digital progression can be a catalyst for social cohesion. Rather than combating digital exclusion by more simply offering more digital opportunities, BESTIE will combat digital exclusion by offering the most natural and socially beneficial method: community-based exchange in creating human interpersonal connections! The BESTIE - Befriending for Social Ties and Digital Inclusion will upskill adult educators to deliver digital skills education resources to adult learners , through a set of innovative, participatory, easy to access and inspirational Project Results that are all utilising communities’ strengths and opportunities to overcome weaknesses and threats in the social and digital inclusion sphere.This objective will be reached through 4 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES, that completely correspond to 4 PROJECT RESULTS:1.PR1: A study of 30 good practices in intergenerational and community-based adult education (Befriending as an Intergenerational Approach to Digital Skills Development, downloaded/received by 500 adult educators2.PR2: Develop a methodology for creating network clubs – networking mechanisms for community-based, inclusive learning of digital competencies – 500 downloads-adult educatorsa.5 BESTIE Network Clubs (France 1, Ireland 2, Spain 1, Greece 1), 30 members each club (10 seniors, 10 migrants, 10 young people)=150 members founded that will cultivate a supportive, safe environment whereby members can gain confidence in new life skills: digital skills – seniors and migrants, mentorship and social skills: young people and migrants 3.PR3: A Toolkit – a learning resource that will show best tools for gaining digital competencies in information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, and problem-solving (Dig Comp Toolkit for Everyday Living) 1000 downloads and direct distribution4.PR4: An interactive learning platform - BESTIE Learning Platform - 500+ RECIPIENTS and accessed online by 1000 individualsBESTIE will inspire adult educators in local NGO’s, development centres, community centres, local authorities and other organisations with a new community based learning formula to deliver digital skills education to adult learners while simultaneously encouraging social interactions and social ties to tackle social isolation.<< Implementation >>All partners will:-contribute to all 4 project results, responding collaboratively to each project result lead and giving inputs where needed, with for example: research, case studies, identification of tools, contributions of content for the all the PRs in accordance with the PR leading partners plan, -form partner country Learning Centres in the form of Bestie Intergenerational Network Clubs-conduct Dissemination and other tasks in accordance with the Project management handbook and other tangible management outputs produced at the project outset-participate in partner meetings, multiplier eventsparticipate in user testingBESTIE will overcome dated and inflexible methods of simply presenting information and knowledge to those who lack digital skills and turns the education process into a socialization method, social treat, befriending and social ties bringing activities. We will implement the following activities to support the above statement: -Facilitate knowledge exchange in the field of digital competencies, mentoring, peer to peer support, -Foster regular communication among these groups to form befriending relationships and -Form social ties through enabling regular contact of social groups who otherwise would not have mutual social connections-Link vulnerable social groups to adult learning providers such as NGO’s, development centres, community centres in the process of organising education, mentoring and knowledge exchange-Conduct research and compose a study of 30 good practices in intergenerational and community-based adult education, that makes the case for the need to evolve practices further and respond to challenges through creative approaches (PR1), reviewed by 20 ADULT EDUCATORS-Develop a methodology Guide for creating network clubs – networking mechanisms for community-based, inclusive learning of digital competencies (PR2)-Found 5 INTERGENERATIONAL BESTIE Network Clubs that will cultivate a supportive, safe environment whereby members can gain confidence in new life skills: social skills, digital skills, intercultural and intergenerational communication, mentorship (PR2)-The Network Guide and BESTIE Clubs will be tested by 20 ADULT EDUCATORS/experts and BESTIE clubs also by 60 ADULT LEARNERS (30 seniors, 30 migrants, 30 youth)-Compile a Toolkit – a learning resource that will show best tools for gaining digital competencies in information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, communication and collaboration and problem-solving (PR3), tested by 20 ADULT EDUCATORS experts and 60 ADULT LEARNERS (30 seniors, 30 migrants, 30 youth) utilizing members of BESTIE clubs-Produce interactive learning platform working as both, content dissemination platform as well as interactive exchange tool for digital competencies knowledge and social skills ideas, ensuring wide and free access of all produced resources - BESTIE Interactive Learning Digital Platform (PR4), tested by 20 ADULT EDUCATORS experts and 60 ADULT LEARNERS (30 seniors, 30 migrants, 30 youth) utilizing members of BESTIE clubs-We will evaluate the project across impacts identified by the project partnership-We will communicate the project values and results to the target groups, ensuring the impact and sustainabilityThis set of combined activities, implemented by the partnership mutually and collaboratively, will bring the added value at EU level, bringing results that would not otherwise be obtained at all individual countries and with all individual partner perspectives.<< Results >>Project Result 1: Befriending as an Intergenerational Approach to Digital Skills Development - A study that collects 30 good practices in intergenerational and community-based adult education practices and makes the case for the need to evolve practices further and respond to challenges through creative approaches. Whereas nearly all previous approaches have focused on ways to approach digital skills in seniors, this report will analyse benefits and skill development (real and potential) from the perspective of the young people and migrants involved and will focus on challenges and opportunities in the context of the pandemic. The study will also show examples of community-based mentorships.Project Result 2: Bestie Intergenerational Network Guide and ClubsOur first action of the output will be to develop a comprehensive Network Guide, which will assist in the creation of our Bestie Intergenerational Network Clubs and ensure widespread uptake of this approach in recruiting young people, migrants and seniors into mutual support and cooperation learning clubs. The Network Guide will have the roles in the community-based learning explained so that both learners (seniors and migrants) and mentors (young people and migrants) know what to expect and how to fulfil their roles. The Network Guide will also explain the skills, pedagogy, communication tools and creative problem solving, so that the facilitators can successfully organise the Clubs.Our second action will be the creation and launch of our Bestie Network Clubs with our target group, young people, migrants and seniors. Community-based learning creating inclusive environments that foster equity and equality, and that are responsive to the needs of the wider community. The Club will cultivate a supportive, safe environment whereby members can gain confidence in new life skills: digital skills – seniors and migrants, mentorship and social skills – young people and migrants. Providing and receiving peer to peer mentoring and support, members can use this network to gain a deeper understanding of the issues they may face and insights into how to overcome them. Project Result 3: Dig Comp Toolkit for Everyday Living – aimed at main target groups directly and based on sections of the The Digital Competence Framework 2.0: Information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, Communication and collaboration and Problem Solving. This toolkit will bring a set of practical everyday tools, easily applicable to everyday citizens digital life, used to improve the quality of life, raise digital efficiency and reduce technostress. The toolkit will come with the Educator’s guide, since the adult educators will be empowered to deliver the toolkit to the final target groups (seniors and migrants) with the help of the peer to peer support of the young people.Project Result 4: Create BESTIE Interactive Learning Digital Platform working as both, content dissemination platform as well as interactive exchange tool for digital competencies knowledge and social skills ideas, ensuring wide and free access of all produced resources - BESTIE Learning Platform. It is not enough just to understand the problem, see a good example and have tools. Adult Educators need the go to place to connect the steps and implement the change, the transformation and that is what this platform will provide.