This is an evaluation report for a year-long digital literacy initiative conducted by Cecil Community Centre in Kensington-Chinatown. Multilingual seniors attended weekly classes, workshops, and optional drop-in sessions to build foundational digital skills. The project focused on Mandarin and Cantonese speakers. The evaluation asked:
To what extent has the program improved participants’ digital literacy and confidence in using technology?
How effectively has the program reduced social isolation among multilingual seniors?
How does the program impact participants’ long-term digital engagement and access to online resources?1
What do you need to know?
Multilingual and non-English-speaking seniors face significant barriers to digital inclusion. This impacts social isolation and can limit access to services they need. This project targeted seniors in a diverse, urban neighbourhood by offering translated instruction and culturally relevant support.
The project provides an important lesson about the need to tailor and customize digital literacy training for specific audiences. Two cohorts of twenty seniors attended 14 weeks of digital literacy classes, with half of the participants attending classes that were translated by a volunteer into Mandarin and Cantonese. Multilingual delivery (Mandarin and Cantonese translation), a community-driven needs assessment and the integration of both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods, including participant interviews and satisfaction surveys, were important to determine what worked.
The project demonstrates how tailored digital literacy programs can both improve technical skills and foster social connection among marginalized senior populations. The program's structure, combining group workshops, one-on-one support, and community celebration, offers a replicable model for similar communities. This project mirrors the findings of the WESO project's client digital literacy experiment which answered a simple but complex question: what is the bare minimum training for Newcomers that would improve the likelihood that they might access online services?
What did the researchers find?
Key Themes:
Skill Improvement: 100% of surveyed participants reported improved digital skills (32.81% "significantly," and 67.19% "somewhat"). None reported no change or decline.
High Satisfaction: 100% of Cohort B participants were very satisfied with program support, and all would recommend the program to other seniors.
Broader Impacts: All Cohort B respondents noted improvements in other life areas (health, employment, education) due to digital literacy gains.
Engagement: Consistent attendance and strong interest in continuing digital learning were observed.
Popular Topics: Cybersecurity, using mobile apps, social media, video calling, and accessing community/government resources were most valued. One-third of respondents highlighted cybersecurity as especially relevant.
Desire for More Practice: 31% wanted more hands-on time with computers.
Unmet Needs: Participants requested future workshops on AI, Microsoft Excel, online shopping, and device troubleshooting.
Participant Quotes:
“Once you open up the computer, you open up the world.”
“The most useful part is showing us how to use the 211 and 311 website.”
“At the very least, I have realized how important the computer is to my life. I want to keep improving.”
“I don't speak English well, but I want to practice using English on the computers more often.”
Outlier Findings & Themes:
Language Barriers: Non-English speakers especially valued translated sessions and expressed a desire to practice English digitally.
Social Connection: Learning digital communication tools (e.g., WhatsApp, group chats) helped participants connect with friends and organize community events.
No Major Challenges: Interviewed participants reported no significant challenges, citing supportive staff and volunteers.
How can you use this research?
For Community Organizations:
Replicate the model of needs-based, multilingual digital literacy programs to address both technical and social needs of seniors.
Prioritize translation and culturally relevant instruction to maximize accessibility and impact.
For Policymakers and Funders:
Support and fund similar targeted digital inclusion initiatives, especially in diverse urban neighbourhoods.
Recognize the broader social and health benefits of digital literacy for seniors.
For Practitioners and Educators:
Incorporate participant feedback to offer more hands-on practice and expand curriculum topics (AI, troubleshooting, etc.).
Use program satisfaction and skill improvement data to refine and justify program design.
For Researchers:
Build on the mixed-methods evaluation approach, combining surveys, interviews, and attendance tracking.
Explore longitudinal impacts of digital literacy on social isolation and access to services.1
Recommendations for Future Research:
Extend program duration and curriculum breadth.
Investigate long-term digital engagement and social outcomes for multilingual seniors.
Target practitioners, academics, and policymakers for ongoing evaluation and best practice development.1
What did the researchers do?
Methods & Activities:
Needs Assessment: Conducted in spring 2024 to shape curriculum.
Participants: 40 seniors (two cohorts of 20), with half attending Mandarin/Cantonese-translated sessions.
Program Delivery: 14 weeks of digital literacy classes per cohort, including workshops and drop-in sessions for one-on-one support.
Evaluation Tools:
End-of-program surveys (32 responses, 80% response rate), including multiple-choice and open-ended questions, translated into Chinese as needed.
Three in-depth participant interviews (with translation support for non-English speakers).
Attendance tracking for engagement analysis.
Literature review to inform best practices and evaluation design.
Demographics: Focused on multilingual, predominantly Chinese-speaking seniors in Kensington-Chinatown, Toronto.
Celebration: Digital Literacy Showcase event with over 50 attendees to mark program completion.
This is an evaluation report for a year-long digital literacy initiative conducted by Cecil Community Centre in Kensington-Chinatown. Multilingual seniors attended weekly classes, workshops, and optional drop-in sessions to build foundational digital skills. The project focused on Mandarin and Cantonese speakers.
