GREAT BAY--Twenty-four seniors have successfully completed the 2026 Senior Smart Tech Program, marking another step in efforts to help older residents of St. Maarten build confidence, independence and practical skills in an increasingly digital society.
The participants were recognized during a certificate ceremony held on Friday, August 14, where Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) Claret Connor presented the seniors with certificates and commemorative pins in recognition of their participation and achievement.
The Senior Smart Tech Program is organized through the Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA) within the Ministry of VSA, in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Social Education Foundation (CIFSEF).
The 2026 cycle began earlier this year following a new registration period for seniors interested in strengthening their ability to use modern technology. The training focuses on practical digital skills that participants can use in their daily lives, helping seniors become more comfortable with smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers and online services.
Among the skills covered through the Smart Tech initiative are navigating the internet, creating documents, inserting and working with images, communicating through applications such as WhatsApp and becoming familiar with the functions of commonly used digital devices.
The training has also addressed practical uses of technology that can support seniors in maintaining their independence, including setting telephone alarms and reminders for medication and medical appointments, communicating with relatives and friends locally and overseas, and becoming more comfortable accessing information electronically.
The Smart Tech initiative grew out of an assessment conducted by CDFHA in 2022 involving four senior organizations. The assessment looked at the circumstances and needs of seniors and examined areas in which additional government support could be provided.
By early 2023, seniors were participating in Smart Tech training at the Gaston Boasman Community Helpdesk for the Elderly and Disabled in Hope Estate. At that stage, participants followed a three-month course with classes held twice weekly and facilitators available to provide hands-on assistance.
The initiative continued to expand. In November 2024, another 18 seniors from the Helping Hands Foundation and Hearts United Holistic Foundation completed a three-month Smart Tech course. Government reported at the time that more than 40 elderly residents had already benefited from the initiative.
That cohort was facilitated by CIFSEF, led by Ashma Berkel, with assistance from Mary Toussaint and Bernadette York. The involvement of senior facilitators provided participants with additional peer support while learning new technology.
CIFSEF also strengthened its ability to provide digital education for seniors through additional computer equipment and training resources obtained through the Resources for Community Resilience initiative, contributing to the continued development of computer skills and Smart Tech training opportunities.
The return of the program in 2026 has further extended those efforts, providing another group of seniors with an opportunity to improve their ability to function in environments where communication, banking, government services, appointments and everyday information are increasingly moving online.
For many older residents, the value of the Smart Tech Program goes beyond learning how to operate a device. The initiative is intended to reduce the digital divide by giving seniors the knowledge and confidence to remain connected with their families, access information and handle more everyday activities independently.
With 24 seniors completing the latest cycle, the 2026 group adds another chapter to a program that has continued to develop since its beginnings in 2022, placing digital inclusion and greater independence for St. Maarten's senior population at the center of its objectives.
