First “digibanks” launched to educate Flemish people digitally | Inland

The digibanks are part of the Flemish recovery plan in the context of the corona crisis. “We have to ensure that the revival does not become just those who are already digital with it,” says Crevits. “The need to close the digital divide is acute. For example, 40 percent of the Belgian population has weak digital skills, while you need them more and more to look for work, for example.”

Crevits already paid a visit to a digibank in the Antwerp district of Borgerhout. Citizens can go there on the one hand to borrow a computer or smartphone and on the other hand to follow an accessible training or workshop on concrete digital skills or the use of online services. A digibank was also launched today in Brussels, Genk, Ghent, Kortrijk and Leuven. Twenty-nine other projects are in the pipeline and Crevits is launching a new call for the next series of potential digibanks.

Flanders deliberately does not set up the digibanks itself, but supports existing organizations with experience in the field, which in turn are looking for local partners – such as local authorities. A total of 50 million euros has been provided for the project.

Teacher Naoual of the digibank in Borgerhout outlines where the shoe pinches usually with so-called digibethen. “It’s not that it’s people who don’t know what the internet is, but they can’t work with it and are afraid to make mistakes or ask for help,” she says. “Having the necessary equipment and an internet connection is one thing, but you also have to be able to go somewhere for guidance. Many people without digital skills have a hard time imagining things that we take for granted, such as dragging something on a screen. You really have to explain that to them with hands and feet and take the time for it.”

According to Crevits, the corona crisis only widened the digital divide, because more and more things have to be done digitally. “We notice that many people are referred to us if they have problems installing the Itsme or CovidSafe apps or if they need to make an appointment with the city’s digital counter,” Naoual agrees. “Some fail because of this, but we try to motivate them and make it clear that there is often no other choice.”