In 2020, the Commissioner for Human Rights Expert Commission on Seniors identified poor conditions for expanding voluntary work as a means of maintaining activeness, sharing know-how, enhancing and making use of competencies, or connecting generations, as one of the major challenges concerning the situation of senior citizens in Poland. Children of school age who are vulnerable due to a dysfunctional family (and isolated further due to the pandemic) need support from positive-thinking adults, and to find role models.
This project will address needs of seniors, such as a need to belong, be needed, be active in the community, and keep up with new technology. It will also address children’s needs: a feeling of importance, adults taking an interest, an adult role model, and development of community skills.
We will enrol six children and six mentors (aged 55+) at three primary schools and organise an integration meeting for them. We will train the mentors to work with children (workshops on methods for working with children of school age, operating flexibly and creatively, communication and cooperation between generations). The pairs will meet a minimum of three times per month to share know-how and develop passions – including in connection with new technologies, participating in interesting events, and jointly working towards a tangible effect. We will provide individual support for mentors (experienced senior mentor) and group support in connection with supervision.
The project will develop and empower seniors and children. Seniors will feel needed and enhance their digital competencies, and children will improve their community skills and motivation to learn.
Eighteen people aged 55+ and eighteen year 4-5 children at three primary schools in the county of Ostrowiec Św. will participate. Eight experienced mentors will be hired to conduct the project.