Tech literacy: A young man bringing older people up to speed

Cal Woods, who has muscular dystrophy, helps older people learn how to use their phones and laptops at Drogheda Library

Cal Woods, volunteers with Age Action on the charity's Digital Literacy Programme in Drogheda Library. where he works with learners. Picture: Moya Nolan

Fri, 02 Oct, 2026 - 02:00

Helen O’Callaghan

A passsion for computers coupled with a desire to give back led Drogheda 27-year-old Cal Woods to apply for a volunteering opportunity with Age Action’s digital literacy programme.

“I’ve done other volunteering, too, but I knew this would be an area where I’d shine and could help the most,” says Woods, who recently completed a Level 7 BSc in computing at Dundalk Institute of Technology. He’s now set to commence a Level 8, specialising in software development.

For the past year, Woods has been a volunteer tutor, doing one-on-one sessions with learners; generally aged from their 60s to their 80s, though he has had some 50-somethings and a 97-year-old. “It’s one day a week, from 10.30am to 12.30pm in Drogheda Library. Each learner gets a two-hour session assigned to them over five weeks, so 10 hours altogether. Which day we do can be arranged on a case-by-case basis.”

Now on his sixth learner, Woods says he loves the people he works with. “I help them with anything from phones to tablets; any kind of digital device. The 97-year-old was brilliant, very patient; she wanted to become better at social media and emailing. One man, in his late 50s, wanted to learn how to use WhatsApp to be able to communicate with his family. He had the Facebook app on his phone, so I also showed him how to use that.

“A man in his mid-60s, quite tech-savvy, wanted to learn how to operate the settings section of his phone and how to watch videos on planes on his iPad.

“Another man in his 50s loved getting news videos, so I helped him to use Facebook to subscribe to online news sites.

“And a lady in her 70s wanted to learn about emailing her family members, mainly her sister.”

The learners’ motivation for accessing the Age Action programme is that while they might have children who would help them, they feel a bit awkward “annoying” their family about it.

“One learner told me their child is always happy to go over it with them, but they never fully explain what they’re doing. And I do think, because it’s so easy for young people, they can assume the older person knows more than they actually do.”

Woods also notices another factor:

I think the learners feel they’re supposed to be the guardian in the [parent-child relationship]. They can feel embarrassed to ask someone younger to show them something they don’t know.

He loves teaching and loves explaining. “I have muscular dystrophy, which affects my limbs. I’m in a wheelchair. I can move my arm, but I have no function in my hands.

“And because I can’t use my hands, the learners have to do it all themselves [on their digital device], which I think is the best way to teach: Letting them do it for themselves.”

Woods sees a strong social component to this volunteering role. “A lot of chatting goes on. We have long conversations. I love older people; that’s another thing that pulled me in. I often go over to a neighbour in his 60s to help him with his electronic devices.”

A movie buff, who “could tell you every actor in every movie” he’s ever watched — “I love looking at the credits” — Cal also enjoys gaming. “I love anything to do with screens. But I’m not an introvert. I do love going out as well.”

There are rewards for Woods, too.

It’s given me experience in teaching others. And it has especially added people skills. It’s been wonderful, and I so want to keep doing it. I’m open to other volunteering, too, but I feel this is where I belong.

Age Action is an advocacy organisation for older people. The charity’s vision is of an inclusive, age-friendly society where older people can lead full, active, and healthy lives.

Each year, Age Action supports and trains approximately 1,000 volunteers. “As volunteers give their time and effort for free, [we’re] committed to bringing each volunteer on a journey, providing ongoing training and support, and skills development opportunities,” says a spokesperson.

Getting Started is Age Action’s free digital literacy programme and it is one of the charity’s two main volunteering opportunities. It helps older people to get online or to use their smart device with confidence. The programme is the first competency-based digital training for older people in Ireland. It uses the EU’s DigComp framework as the foundation of the curriculum, building older people’s capacity to engage safely with technology.

Anyone signing up for a Getting Started class is matched with a volunteer tutor, whom they meet for two hours a week for five weeks.

They work on the skills they want to develop, at a pace that suits them.

To register interest in participating in a Getting Started programme, fill out the form at ageaction.ie and a member of Age Action’s team will be in touch. Or call 0818 911109 to learn more about the programme.