Just three days into the annual European GOW 2015 and we are counting thousands of digital empowerment and inclusion events across 30 countries. What has been going on so far? Here is a quick update on some of our national partners and their organised campaign activities.

Romania

In Romania 166 organisations have joined the campaign locally known as Hai pe Net! organised by EOS Romania. Libraries are very active contributors to the campaign and librarians invited citizens to take part in various activities for young and old. High school students were testing their skills using skillage.eu, creating online profiles on YouRock.jobs, while the smaller ones received tips on how to safely surf the Internet. Library volunteers at the Northern Branch of the Medgidia Municipal Library offered their guidance and support to visitors for the first two days of the campaign. In addition, special activities were organised for people with visual impairment to attract attention of the general public to the issue of vulnerable groups and accessible web.

Latvia

LIKTA in Latvia gathered over 150 partners covering almost all municipalities in the country. High-level opening of the campaign took place on Monday involving policy makers, Digital Champion and industry leaders. Online discussion with innovative teachers was organised to address the development of e-skills for our digital natives (starting from 3 years of age). Tuesday was dedicated to present YouRock.jobs to youngsters, Wednesday saw digital events for SMEs. Have a look at the e-skills ambassadors in Latvia.

Russia

Young Russians from 39 cities across the country had a chance to visit training centres and schools on Tuesday to check their ICT skills, learn about career opportunities in IT and master the basics of programming. Over 100 events were tailored to young people in Russia and two country-wide contests have been launched as part of GOW 2015: “Master of Code” for youngsters from 12 to 18 years of age, and “I’m choosing a Career in IT” for secondary and high school students. Check first photos of GOW 2015 in Russia.

Italy

Italians got lucky this year – two organisations have prepared a number of events in Rome and Emilia Romagna region. RomeCup 2015 with educational robotics as a way to engage young people in technology started yesterday organised by Fondazione Mondo Digitale and will continue for the rest of the campaign week. Another Italian partner ERVET introduced a new regional portal “Lavoroperte” (Job for you) on Tuesday. The portal offers employment related services and the presentation to students and focuses in particular on job and training opportunities related to digital skills. Coop Estense, one of the largest consumer cooperatives in the region, organised two meetings with youngsters as part of the campaign to address two topics: new digital jobs and safety on the net.

Austria

Initiated and supported by Austrian Digital Champion Meral Akin-Hecke, WerdeDigital.at is running a series of 5 open webinars since Monday. Among the topics of this week are: the new world of work, publishing online, online collaboration, online identity, innovation in digital education and many more. Austria has joined GOW 2015 for the first time this year.

Macedonia

Open the Windows organisation pays special attention to people with disabilities and their families. All their GOW 2015 activities are targeted to help these vulnerable groups learn new computer skills, this year focusing on young people with disabilities. Read a short story about Ivana and her son Matej.

Germany

In Germany Stiftung Digitale Chancen is collaborating with TU Dortmund to run GOW country-wide. So far many courses and trainings took place in some schools in Dortmund on cybermobbing, safe use of Facebook, basic skills of PC, all organised by student volunteers. In Berlin primary schools kids had a chance to learn SCRATCH programming language to build their first games. Read more about it here.

Poland

On Monday FRSI officialy launched the Polish Get Online Week in the Presidential Palace with a large audience of participants and media attention. More than 200 organizations confirmed their participation in the campaign (see the map here).

Croatia

Our national partner Telecentar organised workshops for young people on how to use Europass, YouRock.jobs and Skillage.eu.

Serbia

Free ICT courses were organised at IAN Telecentre in Serbia to teach youngsters more about the importance of digital literacy.

Spain

YouRock.jobs was in the spotlight in Spain as well. El Teb run a workshop for telecentres and facilitators at the International Meeting Point of Comunidad Española de Telecentres in Fuerteventura.

Lithuania

Association Langas į ateitį organized seminars for unemployed youth, school children and students about managing reputation online and introduced YouRock.Jobs.

 

More GOW updates can be found on our Facebook page or Twitter. Follow the campaign this week using #GOW15!

Check other interesting publications on GOW 2015:

• Andrus Ansip (European Commission): Digital skills, jobs and the need to get more Europeans online
• Alexa Joyce (Microsoft): Empowering a Generation with Digital Skills
• Lucilla Sioli (European Commission): Here is how we will improve digital skills and create more jobs in Europe
• Ramune Petuchovaite (EIFL): Public libraries rising to the challenges of the digital era