Working together across generations
When I was in my teens I always knew when my late Grandfather started a sentence with “The youth of today..” that I was in trouble. In his view most of what was wrong with the world was down to the disrespect of young people. Thirty years on and I still hear it regularly. But I have just learned about a programme in London which partners elderly people with school children in creative projects and has great success in breaking down the barriers to understanding each other.
“Magic Me ” was the subject of a Radio 4 programme recently. It reports on the relationships between members of both groups.
One elderly man tells a youngster about being a refugee and arriving in London not speaking any English. On that basis they were similar.
An elderly lady chats kindly to a young girl about her boyfriend and – without being either judgemental or sleazy – indicates that she remembers what it was like to try to attract a young man’s eye.
The groups work together on creative projects. In this case they are making play equipment for a local nursery.
A lad who has trouble staying focussed tells his elderly partner that he wants to be a teacher and gets some wise advice about his approach to that!
Please check out the website – and follow the link to the programme. It is really worthwhile.
