Residents at Werribee’s Heathglen Retirement Village are forming a special bond with pupils from Westgrove Primary School as part of an intergenerational school volunteering program.
The program is run by EdConnect Australia and is likened to the intergeneration experiment, ABC’s Old people’s home for 4 year olds and Old people’s home for teenagers.
EdConnect Australia connects residents of retirement villages with nearby schools to provide classroom support, library assistance, special programs and mentoring for students at risk of disengagement.
Pupils visited the retirement village last month to connect with the residents and learn about the differences and similarities of their generations.
Westgrove assistant principal Susan Richardson said the value of bringing young people and older people together cultivates a sense of purpose and enriches all participants.
The school hopes to extend the relationship by inviting residents to visit the pupils at school in term three.
Heathglen village manager Gary Baker said residents have shown an interest in volunteering at the school.
“Ï have a special connection with this school because I used to be a student there,” he said.
“It was wonderful to have the children come into our village and spend time with the residents.”
EdConnect Australia east coast general manager Danie McNeil said the organisation would work to closely match residents who put their hand up to volunteer with students with similar interests and passions.
