Bridging the Digital Divide: The Nikkei Horizon Computer Program at Kawabe Memorial House

Maria Langlais, Aging and Disability Services

Whether choosing a prescription drug plan or corresponding with grandchildren, more seniors are finding it necessary to get online and learn how to use computers. Because of the costs associated with Internet access and computer ownership, many low-income seniors find themselves on the wrong side of the “digital divide”—the gap between those who have access to online information and those who don’t.

With help from hardworking volunteers, community partners, corporate sponsors and the City of Seattle’s Community Technology Program, the residents of Kawabe Memorial House have crossed the divide. With access to a computer lab, free classes, wireless internet access, and low cost PCs, Kawabe’s seniors are enjoying the benefits of technology. 

When director Connie Devaney was asked by a friend to start a computer lab at Kawabe House back in 1999 as part of a HUD program to improve access to technology in low income housing units, she agreed to do it as a favor. However, she really didn’t think that anyone would be interested. 

Kawabe House is a retirement housing community in Seattle that provides affordable apartments for seniors. The majority of residents are Japanese and Korean elders, 40% do not speak English, and 45% of them are over age 80. Undaunted, Connie recruited her then 16-year-old son to teach classes on the two computers that constituted the lab.
 
From these humble beginnings, the Computer Program at Kawabe House has made incredible strides. The program offers a range of classes each week to enthusiastic students of all levels of computer experience. Connie credits volunteer Joe Ike with helping the program take off. Joe was able to help seniors past the initial fear of computers and motivate them to want to learn.

One of Joe’s students received an email from his grandson in Korea.  It said, “Grandpa, I love you.”  The proud grandpa printed out the email and proceeded to show it to everyone in the building. “He was grinning from ear to ear,” said Joe.  “After that, everyone wanted to learn.”

Most of the residents want to be able to send e-mail to relatives and to read on-line newspapers and magazines in Korean or Japanese. In addition to beginner level courses in e-mail and using the Internet, Joe teaches classes in virus protection, word processing and spreadsheets, digital cameras, and seasonal classes such as creating and sending greeting cards on-line.

Connie continues to be amazed at how successful the program is. Thanks to a wonderful partnership with Nikkei Horizons, the educational branch of Nikkei Concerns, computer classes are free to Kawabe House residents.  Community members can take the classes for a small fee as part of the Nikkei Horizons adult continuing education program. This is a great benefit to the both the residents and the community—the residents feel like they are part of the community, and the community is an integral part of Kawabe House. The classes have become so popular with the Kawabe House residents that Joe has added an entire day of classes just for them.

Connie also gives credit to David Keyes at the City of Seattle’s Community Technology Program. David’s stewardship enabled Kawabe House and Hilltop House, another affordable senior housing complex, to receive equipment from Cisco to implement a wireless network in their buildings. The City provided funds through their Community Technology Fund, and volunteers Joe Ike and Terry Uno installed the equipment. Jerry Whiting from JetCityOrange.com donated one year of a free DSL line for both Kawabe House and Hilltop House.

Joe and Terry are also hard at work on another project that will provide computers to residents. For a one-time fee of $70, the seniors will get a computer and Internet connection. Joe and Terry are building the computers from scratch.
 
Terry is a resident of Kawabe House who took one of Joe’s classes, as he says, “just for laughs.”  He liked it so much that he became Joe’s volunteer assistant. He loves being able to give back and considers it a privilege to help the older residents, especially with simple things that can make a big difference in their lives, such as teaching them how to shop for groceries online. 

For more information on the Nikkei Horizons Computer Program at Kawabe House, contact Connie Devaney, Executive Director of Kawabe House at (206) 322-4550 or connie.devaney@gmail.com.