Pupils and pensioners have been bridging the generation gap in an extraordinary project to help build relationships.
Older resident can often feel intimidated by groups of young people while, on the other hand, younger residents often dismiss the older generation.
That is why children from Gelli Primary School and residents who attend Bronllwyn Day Centre have been benefiting from an intergenerational project, which helps each age group understand and respect the important contribution the other makes to society.
Throughout the project the pupils and older residents have been discussing and interviewing each other on different aspects of their lives and issues that affect them.
It has seen an older resident and schoolchild “paired up” so they can discuss their lives and identify shared issues. This has led to the creation of a memory book that will be given to all participants at the end of the project.
The important scheme is the latest in a series of initiatives organised in and around the Treorchy area to ensure different generations spend time together, get to know each other and develop a mutual respect and understanding.
Other schemes have included gardening, art, book projects and even a bowls club. The latest scheme was made possible thanks to Year six teacher Chris Jones, Rachel Blackey, Community-focussed Schools Cluster Worker for Treorchy and Paul Stephens, Manager of the day centre.
Rachel said: “Our approach has helped generations to listen to and understand each other. It has removed any fear, which may have led to an older person feeling intimidated, whereas the young people really connected with the older people and, most importantly, learned they were just like them when they were younger!”
Paul Stephens added: “It has been a wonderful experience supporting the different groups, helping to bridge the age barrier between the elderly and the young.
“The service users have enjoyed discussing their individual experiences of childhood and the school children have learned about and experienced a time without electronic toys and mobile phones. It has been so successful that we are already planning our next project.”
Chris Jones concluded: “It is a wonderful project and the children have benefited greatly from the first-hand experiences of the older generation. The experience has brought their learning to life and this is something I look forward to developing further in the next few years.”
