Credit union philanthropy supporting digital centre for BARP members

The Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) is partnering with the Legacy Foundation – the philanthropic arm of the Barbados Public Workers Co-operative Credit Union – to establish a business centre for its membership.

During a press briefing at the BARP Headquarters in Hastings, Christ Church on Monday, Programme Development Coordinator at the Legacy Foundation Hanif Moore said the charity was investing $75 000 to fund the project which aims to meet the digital and the online world demands of BARP members.

He explained that BARP’s head office would go under some renovations so the centre could be set up. It is estimated that the centre would be opened before the first quarter of the year. 

The business centre would have five computer stations, including one for braille users, and members who have tablets and laptops could also access the facilities.

President of BARP Marilyn Rice-Bowen said this was an exciting opportunity that would ensure the 23 000 members of the organisation were not marginalised in the digital age.

She said members would receive training at the business centre to learn how to pay bills online and conduct other digital transactions. She said this would be beneficial as well as the National Insurance and Social Security Service seeks to discontinue its traditional disbursement of pension cheques through the postal service. The members would also be able to access automated teller machine (ATM) training.  

“I am so happy today because we are getting closer to a dream that was born in 2021,” Rice-Bowen said. “The theme for World Elder’s Day for 2021 was Digital Access For All Ages and that theme fueled BARP’s enthusiasm to search for a partner, a non-governmental organisation, to facilitate our dream of digital equity for all.”

She added that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for elders to have access to the Internet, computers and other digital technologies.

Chairman of Legacy Foundation Maureen Graham said the project fell within the purview of the organisation’s empowerment and learning mandate.

“The foundation decided to partner with BARP on this project since BARP is recognised as the leader in championing the well-being of senior members of the Barbadian society and we recognised the need to assist in the transition to the digital economy by empowering its members and teaching them new skills and legacy foundation is all about empowering,” she said. (SZB)