Inter-generational sharing and connection is a powerful tool for learning. When young people and older generations share information, viewpoints and experiences everybody benefits. We saw this powerful dynamic in action when Wymondley Road School and residents from Wattle Downs Retirement Village connected at Hillary House. They told each other stories during the shared name game, and during the tour of the House the student leaders were able to hear how much the seniors looked up to Sir Ed when they were young.
An added benefit from this visit will be when the school choir visits the village later this year, reinforcing these relationships while also building a sense of leadership and contribution to community by these young student leaders. This is a terrific outcome as a result of the facilitators, Trust Chair Robin Houlker and Hillary Helper Bernadette Phillips, deciding to bring the groups together on the same day. Thanks to a small grant from the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board, student leader groups from ten schools in this area have been able to visit in past months.
Other benefits of our Student Leader Visiting Programme include opportunity for students to reflect upon Sir Ed’s impact on their leadership development at school.
September 2019