The strategy of the programme Inklusive Internet, which Stiftung Digitale Chancen carried out from 2009 until 2011 was built on the assumption that Social Media and Web 2.0 applications open a new approach to Digital Inclusion.

Social Media lower the threshold to online applications in general and it is easier for people who are not yet digitally included to become aware of the new opportunities digital media offer.

Target groups

The programme Inklusive Internet covered diverse modules sustaining each other:

• Training for multipliers in the welfare sector: 1.250 social workers dealing with any target group potentially affected by the Digital Divide improved their skills
• First-Steps and counseling approach in Senior Citizens Homes: 1.000 seniors became more involved in the online community and their isolation was reduced
• Pilot projects for special target groups: 10 women in the low wage sector and 12 young Russian migrants improved their employment prospects, for 15 visual impaired seniors isolation was reduced.

From the evaluation results of the pilot projects we have learned for further valorization:

• how visual impaired seniors take up on ICT and Internet in a well equipped and accessible location and good learning atmosphere
• how young migrants can benefit from providing an ICT training in their mother tongue
• how women in the low wage sector can be addressed perfectly well at their working space with Internet training courses.

Replication & tools

The training campaign is very easy to replicate since the curriculum is designed for multipliers. The trainer strategy, offering methodological ideas and a recommended time schedule allows for adoption by other organisations.

The curriculum consists of optional modules to address the interests of different target groups, thus it is appropriate for the use in different countries and their specific circumstances. It will already be replicated with some modifications at two current projects: Social Web - Social Work and D-Lit.

Alle.de is a social bookmarking tool that we used during the project and that provides a platform for the participating social workers. Registered users could recommend websites for specific target groups and therefore support other colleagues gaining more knowledge about the world wide web - we are now using the core of the platform for our UdL Digital Roundtables.

Further, the good co-operation with the welfare sector in the project has proven of value. Now the conclusion can be drawn that with social media the Internet has dropped the anchor in social work. Experience how to address the social sector and how to adapt the training strategy to their working conditions can be easily transferred to other countries.