Schools Programmes

Bring Young and Old Together: Transition Year and CSPE Programmes

Transition Year and CSPE Programmes

Bring Young and Old Together

 

Our schools programme aims to increase young people’s knowledge of the ageing process and in doing so help to create a better understanding of what the challenges older people in your community may face and how these challenges may lead to social isolation.

Connections between young and old have declined in recent times. We are living in a constantly changing world, families are smaller and many have moved away, leaving older people with fewer connections to their community. This can lead to social isolation and missed opportunities for young and old alike to learn from one another.

Evidence shows that intergenerational contact is effective in combating loneliness among older people and in fact improves the health and well-being of both groups.

A key objective of Friends of the Elderly’s schools’ programme is to support and develop Intergenerational projects throughout educational establishments, youth and community groups where young and old share their skills, knowledge, or experience. Intergenerational projects strengthen communities and enable them to become more age-friendly by breaking down barriers between ages.

 

Transition Year and CSPE Programmes

The central aim of the Friends of the Elderly Transition Year and CSPE Programmes is to give time for the young and old to enjoy each other’s company. The planned activities will give the students a greater appreciation of the values of the elderly, of how life was lived in Ireland during the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, of what the elderly have achieved and what they are passing on to us. We hope that students will take with them the knowledge that the elderly are good company, that ageing is an integral part of life, and that a life well led should be celebrated.

The Friends of the Elderly Transition Year and CSPE Programmes can be incorporated into the Community Care/Social Outreach content of the timetable. They are designed so that all students, either as individuals, as a class or as part of the entire Transition Year can participate and receive certification on completion

A. The Friends of the Elderly Transition Year and CSPE Programme for Individual Students
The student must complete 3 of the activities below
– Make a friendship commitment to an elderly person
– Design and make Friendship Cards for the elderly.
– Produce a Life and Times Biography for an elderly person
– Produce a When My Elderly Friend Was Young essay.

B. The Friends of the Elderly Transition Year and CSPE Programme for the class
The class must complete 4 of the activities below.
– Make a friendship commitment to an elderly person
– Design and make Friendship Cards for the elderly.
– Produce a Life and Times Biography for an elderly person.
– Produce a When My Elderly Friend Was Young essay.
– Invite and elderly person to the school for an In My Day talk.
– Bring an hour of entertainment to a day centre or nursing home for the elderly.
– Organise an end-of-year display of work in the local library or your school.

C. The Friends of the Elderly Transition Year and CSPE Programme for the school year
The class must complete 5 of the activities below.
– Make a friendship commitment to an elderly person
– Design and make Friendship Cards for the elderly.
– Produce a Life and Times Biography for an elderly person
– Produce a When My Elderly Friend Was Young Essay.
– Invite and elderly person to the school for an In My Day talk.
– Bring an hour of entertainment to a day centre or nursing home for the elderly.
– Organise an end-of-year display of work in the local library or your school.
– Host an Elderly Hero Award in your school

On completion of the programme Certificates of Merit will be issued by the Chairman of Friends of the Elderly.

“One thing stirs me when I look back at my youthful days; it is the fact that so many people gave me something or were something to me without knowing it. Such people had a decisive influence on me; they entered into my life and became powers within me. Much that I should not otherwise have felt so clearly or done so effectively was felt or done as it was, because I stand, as it were, under the sway of these people. Hence I always think that we all live spiritually by what others have given us in the significant hours of our life.. If we had before us those who have been a blessing to us, and could tell them how it came about, they would be amazed to learn what passed over from their lives to ours.”

Taken from: Memoirs of Youth and Childhood by Albert Schweizer

Please note – Friends of the Elderly is a registered Irish charity. We depend on voluntary donations. There is no charge for the Friends of the Elderly Transition Year Support Programmes. We would be grateful if your school or class could make a contribution or hold a class raffle or other fundraising activity to support our work.