Digital Skills Instructor
Seniors Well-Being and Engagement Program — Calgary
Part-time | max 10 hours per week | $35 per hour | 18-month position
Help African, Caribbean, and Black seniors build the digital skills they need to stay connected, informed, safe, and independent.
Africa Centre is Western Canada’s largest pan-African nonprofit organization. We create opportunities for African-descent communities in Alberta to participate fully in social, cultural, educational, and economic life.
Our Seniors Well-Being and Engagement Program supports older adults through digital learning, social connection, community participation, service navigation, and culturally responsive programming.
The Africa Centre is committed to equitable employment practices. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds and strongly encourage applications from people of African, Caribbean, and Black descent, as well as individuals with lived or professional experience in the communities we serve.
About the Opportunity
Technology increasingly affects how older adults communicate with family, attend health appointments, access government services, manage finances, and participate in their communities. However, many seniors face barriers such as limited access to devices, language differences, unfamiliarity with technology, and fear of making mistakes online.
Africa Centre’s Digital Skills Program provides patient, practical, and culturally responsive instruction in a welcoming environment. Building on our experience in Edmonton, we are expanding the program to Calgary and seeking a compassionate instructor to support local seniors.
This is more than a technology-teaching position. You will help older adults strengthen their confidence, independence, safety, and connection to family and community.
What You Will Do
The Digital Skills Instructor will:
- Deliver eight hours of small-group and one one one instruction each week.
- Spend two hours per week preparing lessons, adapting materials, and documenting progress.
- Teach practical skills such as smartphone and computer basics, email, video calling, online safety, Google, Microsoft Office, online banking safety, health portals, and government and community resources.
- Explain technology using clear, simple, jargon-free language.
- Create a patient, respectful, and judgment-free learning environment.
- Adapt lessons for different abilities, language needs, learning styles, and levels of digital experience.
- Support learners who speak English as an additional language.
- Track attendance, participation, learner progress, and program outcomes.
- Celebrate participants’ achievements and encourage continued learning.
- Refer participants to appropriate community support when needs fall outside the instructor’s role.
- Collaborate with Seniors Program Lead and community partners in Calgary and Edmonton.
The instructor will teach safe digital practices but will not request, record, or enter participants’ passwords, banking credentials, or other confidential information.
Who We Are Looking For
You may be a community educator, retired teacher, settlement worker, facilitator, social-service professional, digital-literacy instructor, or someone who regularly helps others learn technology.
The successful candidate will have:
- Patience, empathy, and a genuine interest in working with older adults.
- Confidence using email, internet browsers, smartphones, video-conferencing platforms, and Microsoft or Google applications.
- The ability to explain digital concepts in simple, practical steps.
- Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
- Flexibility in responding to different learning abilities and levels of experience.
- Cultural humility and respect for African, Caribbean, and Black communities.
- A commitment to reducing social isolation and strengthening seniors’ independence.
- The ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and protect participants’ privacy.
The following would be considered assets:
- Experience in adult education, digital-literacy instruction, ESL/LINC, social work, settlement services, seniors’ programming, or community development.
- Formal or informal teaching, tutoring, coaching, or facilitation experience.
- Experience supporting older adults or learners who speak English as an additional language.
- Familiarity with African Canadian communities in Calgary.
Lived experience, community knowledge, and demonstrated ability to support others are valued alongside formal education.
Position Details
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
- Duration: 18 months, with the possibility of extension subject to funding and program needs
- Hours: 10 hours per week
- Instruction: Eight hours per week
- Preparation and documentation: Two hours per week
- Compensation: $35 per hour, up to 10 hours per week
- Anticipated start date: September 20th
What We Provide
You will receive:
- An established curriculum and teaching materials.
- Orientation and training on the program’s approach.
- Access to adult-education and digital-literacy resources.
- Support from a collaborative, mission-driven team.
- Opportunities for professional development.
- A flexible and meaningful part-time role.
- The opportunity to see participants’ confidence and independence grow.
How to Apply
Help seniors build the confidence to connect with family, access essential services, stay safe online, and participate fully in their communities.
Please submit:
- A brief résumé or CV.
- A cover letter of no more than 250 words explaining your interest and suitability for the position.
In your cover letter, please tell us:
- About a time you helped someone learn a new skill.
- Why are you interested in working with African, Caribbean, and Black seniors?
- How you would help a learner who feels anxious or discouraged about technology.
Application deadline: September 8, 2026
We appreciate every application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
