Tech Savvy

by Kevin Fritz

Thanks to a new youth-led nonprofit organization in Lake Mary, seniors in Seminole County are keeping pace with changes in technology, one session at a time.

GenTech Education, established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2024, is an altruistic endeavor designed to empower seniors with technology skills in an increasingly digital world that is constantly evolving. Most intriguing is that GenTech classes are taught by teenagers at no cost.

Arhan Sethi, 17, is one of the organization’s founders and executive officers.

“The idea started a few years ago,” says Arhan. “I was at temple one day, and a man reached out for help.” 

From there, Arhan was invited to the man’s senior center, where he taught a few basic technology classes for about 10 people. That’s when Arhan realized he could put his knowledge to use on a wider scale, helping seniors throughout the community. 

Whiz Kids

“I reached out to some of my friends to see if they were interested in joining me,” he says. “All of them love technology and are passionate about it like I am.” 

Arhan recruited Noh Goering and Arya Malekjahani, both 17, to help him launch the nonprofit organization. All three attend Crooms Academy of Information Technology and are dual enrolled at Seminole State College.

“We all have our strong points,” says Arhan. “Arya is an Android expert, while Noh and I have expertise in Apple.”  

In less than a year, the three have visited five area senior centers 20 times, teaching 150 seniors how to use their computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices. The teens work hard to bridge the generation gap through the free education and support.

“Our goal is to assist seniors with skills to stay connected with loved ones and manage daily tasks,” says Arhan.

He, Arya, and Noh follow a curriculum that covers all the bases when it comes to technology, from the ABCs of phone apps to internet safety. They also provide the seniors with easy-to-follow handouts. Sessions last between an hour and 90 minutes. The guys spend about half of that time answering questions.  

“Everyone has at least five questions they want to ask,” says Arhan. “And there is a lot of one-on-one. The small size of the classes allows for hands-on instruction.” 

Patience Is a Virtue 

The seniors aren’t the only ones learning valuable lessons during the GenTech sessions. Arhan says he and his friends have come to understand the seniors’ points of view when it comes to absorbing knowledge. Arhan, for example, has become more patient.

“I have learned to slow down,” he says. “Everyone has their own way of viewing a problem or explaining a solution. Solutions may make sense in my head but may not to them. Everyone learns differently. “

Arhan puts his teaching skills – and newfound patience – to use in his own family, too. When he visits his grandparents in India, Arhan often helps them with their tech devices.

For the time being, GenTech Education is limiting its outreach to local retirement homes and senior centers. One location that the nonprofit frequently visits is the Lake Mary Senior Center, to the delight of the staff and seniors there.

“They cover a general topic every time they come,” says Diane Dever, senior center assistant. “We had a similar program pre-Covid that went away, and when this opportunity came up, I jumped on it.”

The Lake Mary Senior Center averages about 10 people per session, and the senior students keep their young teachers busy answering a variety of tech-related questions. 

“They treat our seniors with respect and are very patient,” says Diane. “The program is going very well and has been very helpful.”  

Tricks of the Trade

Longwood resident Stacy Wilson, a regular at the Lake  Mary Senior Center, is a big fan of GenTech’s easy-to-understand sessions.

“These guys are awesome,” says Stacy. “They are so polite and informative and even teach us some tricks. They helped me access the alarms on my phone.” 

Retirement homes and senior centers are welcome to reach out to Arhan to schedule sessions. As the venture builds momentum, he and his co-founders know they will need more students to serve the growing number of seniors seeking assistance with technology, especially when it comes to their phones.

For anyone interested in joining the GenTech team, Arhan makes it easy by providing pre-designed topics to follow while teaching a session. A sign-up form is available on the organization’s website at GenEdu.Tech.

“We are working toward building a volunteer base and placing them in centers,” says Arhan. “We are looking for students who share our passion for technology.”