Peer mentoring
The skill level of children who have successfully participated in DigiSmart over 2 terms increases significantly. This means that, often for the first time in their lives, children who have struggled to achieve are now in a position to help others.
To take advantage of this, the project includes a peer mentoring framework. In Term 3 children are given opportunities to act as DigiSmart buddies or special consultants, helping classmates or younger children to improve their skills and confidence.
This not only reinforces what they have achieved during the weekly sessions but also brings them status, builds their sense of self-worth and helps to develop respect for others.
Importantly, the peer mentoring strand also extends the project benefits more widely to children beyond the DigiSmart group.
Some of the DigiSmart graduates even help parents to use and gain greater confidence with computers.
“I enjoy helping others — it makes me feel good.”
DigiSmart child
“I thought this project was just going to be about learning to use the computer, but it is about so much more. I have been helping others. One night I was in the library and two adults were trying to use the computer and they didn’t know how to, so I was able to go over and help them out.”
DigiSmart child
