In 2012/13 we first started the program “Generationsbrücke” (Generation Bridge) with 4th grade students. We aimed to develop a partnership with senior citizens living in residences by visiting them regularly with the students.
Teachers and representatives of the “Generationsbrücke Germany” prepare the students and accompany them on their visits. Questions and topics that arise from these visits can be discussed and developed in our lessons.
Through the Generationsbrücke, students can learn that aging is a natural process and lose their fears of older people and those who need special care. Experiences of closeness, respect and the feeling of being mutually loved and needed are promoted. The meaning of constant and regular relationships also becomes accessible in this framework. With the promotion of these values, we want to take a stand against the superfluity of material and medial overstimulation in today’s society and the meaninglessness that follows. It’s important to us that students do things together with the seniors and not just for them.
Students from all Religion Skills classes participate in this project.
http://www.generationsbruecke-deutschland.de
A video on the Generationsbrücke Project can be found here:
