Building connections no trivial pursuit
Students and seniors are breaking down barriers and forming bonds over board games like Scrabble, Battleship and chess.
Council has launched the InterGen Project with Boronia K12 College and Your Library, as part of a Swinburne University research project into intergenerational social connection.
Participant Trevor Gough, 84, was surprised how quickly everyone gelled.
“It was quite extraordinary, which I didn’t expect,” he says. “It was very pleasant and I hope I’ve been able to contribute something to it. It gave me a far better understanding about how the younger generation thinks.
“It’s nice to be able to mix on the same level as the younger generation. You can get encouragement from them because they’ve got that sparkle of life.”
For the students, mixing with seniors has brought about positive changes.
Hannah says the program made her “more open, caring and mindful” while Mitchell says he “loves spending time with the elderly and making new bonds with people I never knew.”
Cailey says both younger and older people can be judged because of age but this program made them realise their similarities.
“There’s a lot of stigma around certain ages with this idea that youth are ignorant or stupid or reckless,” she says. “Then there’s the opposite stigma where people who are older are withering away or whatever it may be. So, coming here and having the ability to connect the youth with people who are older, it shows there can still be similarities and age holds no difference when it comes to a person.”
Ashley says different generations don’t usually have a space where they can meet.
“They don’t have many opportunities where they cross,” she says. “I think this is good because it brings everyone together and we can all communicate. I make some friends and have some fun experiences.”
Mia says before the program the only time you might hang out with an older person was with your grandparents or other relatives.
“I think it’s helping me develop as a person because I’m interacting with the older people, which I’m not used to, and it’s made me see that I can have fun and enjoy time with older people,” she says.
College Wellbeing Leader Nicole Costa says the program brought out the best in students.
“We loved seeing the students and older participants form bonds that grew stronger over the weeks and learning new games along the way as it quickly became the best part of our week,” she says.
“We are so proud of the way our students went into the program with an open mind and caring nature to make sure that no one, young or older, was left behind.
“Since the project has ended, we have continued to see our students show kindness, care and interest within our school community.”
Council is expanding the program in Knox and a resource tool kit is being developed for community groups that want to implement an intergenerational program. The initiative is part of Council’s Child, Youth and Seniors Plan, which identifies opportunities for intergenerational activities that build respect and understanding and strengthen community connections.
Find out more, call 9298 8060 or email [email protected].
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