EngAGE is always excited to find programs that link young people and seniors in meaningful ways. Older people are often great mentors, but young people can be mentors, too, especially when the topic is technology. And please note that this is an international phenomenon! Here are two more stories of kids helping seniors learn the ropes:
In Australia: “Seventy-five seniors took part in free mobile phone workshops at Mackillop College, assisted by senior IT students and technology guru Peter Blasina. Seniors were guided through mobile basics to make communication with family and friends easier, as well as being shown how to put their ICE (In Case of Emergency) number into their phone. Senior resident Pat Burke said the one-on-one time with her student helper Tabitha Plunkett made the workshop worthwhile. ‘I thought it was very good. I got more help from my student [Tabitha] than I did from Peter,’ she said. ‘He was far more advanced while she was sitting right here and guided me. Tabitha was a lot of help.'”
Read more here.
In Canada: “‘I need help figuring out the programming on my cell phone,’ Allison said. ‘And I need to find out how to look at the pictures in my camera after I take them. And I need to find out how to make the sound come out of the computer in these headphones.’ Allison was in the right place for some answers, as members of the North Island Youth Leadership Council invaded the seniors centre Saturday afternoon for their third tech workshop. . . It was part of a larger program designed to do a lot more than ease the transition of seniors and elders to modern technology. ‘In part, we’re trying to bridge the gap between elders and youth,’ said Michel Therien of the Ministry of Child and Family Development. ‘Some of the benefits we’ve seen is that the relationships between youth and elders have flourished. There’s a lot of repect and also a lot of fun when they get together.'”
Read more here.
