BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – STUDENTS, parents and teachers of the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School in Molyneaux are seeking to bridge the gap which exists between the older and younger generations and to that end, recently engaged in somewhat of an outreach programme.
SKNVibes understands that for the month of October, which is recognized as the Month of Older Persons, students were asked to approach their parents for food items to be placed in food baskets for distribution to the elderly members of their community.
The exercise was reportedly a success and information reaching this media house indicates that 20 older persons were recipients of these food hampers.
As part of the exercise, the students, along with their teachers, would travel to the older person’s home and deliver the basket of goodies.
Principal of the school Janelle Williams-Jacobs said the exercise was not just about observing the Month of the Elderly but it was aimed at bridging the widening gap between the younger generations and the oldest existing generation and to foster a sense of community awareness amongst the students.
“We want to teach the children respect for their elders and get them to show love towards the elders… (people) are now getting children (at younger ages) and some children are not familiar with that kind of home setting. It’s just young persons in the home so they need to have that kind of appreciation for older persons.
“I myself did not grow up around older persons so it’s a good opportunity for me as well, pulling the community and the children together to make us one. I think we need that oneness within the community.”
Also as part of the exercise, the eldest individual in that community, Mrs. Lewis (91), was presented with a food hamper courtesy the Department of Social Services and Community Development, represented by Community Development Officer for the area, Alicia Collins.
In an interview with this publication, Collins commended the school for its effort and explained that it is synchronized with the Ministry’s thrust to bridge the intergenerational gap.
“An activity such as this is what our Department of Social Services and Community Development has been gearing towards over past years. We secured funding from DAP in Trinidad to do an intergenerational project and we started it in St. Paul’s Primary and…also in the Cayon Primary where we would have after-school sessions or during school where students would interact within the two communities where the older folks would teach them arts and craft and things of that sort."
She said the Department’s thrust also involves several other activities which allow for the various age groups to gather in a particular place and engage in bonding activities.
As she explained, “under one umbrella, we want to shelter everyone”.
Collins said the effort must not just reside with the students or the Department but encouraged businesses, organisations, individuals, all, to adopt the “one umbrella” mantra and join in the bridging exercise.
"We can’t always know what is happening in the community so we call upon the groups in the community to let us know what is happening so that we can be a part of it."
The Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School’s community outreach exercises continue next week with a community cleanup.
