Hello all,
A question on who might be doing innovative work on the issue of intergenerational programming.  We have had two programs operating for a year on a pilot basis in local elementary schools - one Francophone and one Anglophone.

The Francophone program involved five seniors working as volunteers with a Grade 4 class.  There was a lot of emphasis on passing along French Canadian traditions and helping the students to become more proud of their culture, and more aware of the struggles of Franco-Ontarians to maintain that culture.  The project was very interesting, but extremely time intensive on the part of staff, the teacher and the seniors.  Although we could not maintain it in the form we originally developed, we are continuing it on a smaller scale.

On the Anglo side, the project is more modest, taking the model of "Knitting Generations Together", sponsored by one of the provincial seniors groups.  In this, senior volunteers have been coming to the school once per week at lunchtime to teach interested students how to knit.  The program has proven to be very popular.

In both of these initiatives we want to help develop contacts across the generations.  We also see a huge potential to get seniors more involved in volunteering in the schools, where there is a HUGE need.

I would be interested in the experience and ideas of others in this area, particularly those who have had successful experiences (or unsuccessful ones) at getting seniors involved in the schools.

Thanks,
Ken Hoffman