More information
Description
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.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the problem of isolation of senior citizens and children from families at risk of social exclusion living in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. Among the most important challenges concerning the situation of people 65+ in Poland are low level of social, educational and cultural activity, lack of opportunities to engage in voluntary work, stereotypes about old age, direct and systemic discrimination. Meanwhile, Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski is a city largely populated by people 65+ - in 2019, as many as 21.4% of the county''s residents were people of this age. Another group at risk of exclusion are children - unfortunately, the time of the pandemic has made social stratification glaringly apparent and further excluded some children from participating in various activities. In Poland, there is a lack of initiatives to develop volunteering among senior citizens as a way of staying active, passing on experiences, using competences or bringing generations together.
As part of the project, a mentoring programme was implemented in three local primary schools. In each of the schools, 6 children and 6 mentors (persons 55+) took part in an integration meeting, and then met individually, but on a regular basis to exchange experience, share their passions and spend time together. The mentors were prepared for their work with children by attending workshops on working methods with school-age children, flexibility and creativity in action, communication and intergenerational cooperation. They also benefited from supervisions throughout the project. At the end of the project, all participants had a joint integration meeting. The project also produced various materials - radio and video - as well as a publication on mentoring.
The project involved 18 people aged 55+ and 18 children in grades 4-6 from three primary schools, including children from foster families and those with low financial status. Both groups received emotional support and motivation for self-development. Their self-esteem, social and communication competences were improved. Those 65+ additionally developed their digital skills and the children developed their motivation to learn. There is no doubt that a strong intergenerational bond was established between the two groups.