CBS Pupils Begin Weekly Visits To Fatima Nursing Home Residents

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Residents and staff of Our Lady Of Fatima Nursing Home with CBS pupils and teacher Michelle Culloty at the home last week.

CBS Primary School is bridging the generation gap in a new project with Fatima Nursing home.

Ten fourth class children have become members of “The Seanóige Club”, who will visit the Nursing Home on a weekly basis to engage in a range of activities with the residents.

It is hoped that the programme will help to bring young and old people together in purposeful, mutually beneficial activities which promote greater understanding and respect between generations.

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The programme will run for eight weeks initially, with a variety of activities planned for each week.

Last Thursday was the first day of The Seanóige Club, and the children brought St Brigid’s crosses to the residents. They had a getting to know you session, where they filled in questionnaires, and spoke of school days in the past.

The residents shared lovely stories, jokes and facts with the children and it was a fantastic learning experience for all. Over the next few weeks, the club is planning gardening sessions, art and craft activities, card games and puzzle activities.

The Club was established after the school choir visited the Nursing Home at Christmas time to share carols with the residents.

The residents from the home were taking part in the St Vincent de Paul Christmas jumper day, the boys and girls from the school made badges for the residents to decorate their jumpers and they also sang some carols for them.

The visit was a great success. Through discussion and consultation between the school principal Denis Coleman and teacher Michelle Culloty and the activity coordinator from our lady of Fatima’s nursing home the Seanoige club came about.

Our Lady of Fatima home, founded by the Dominican sisters has a long tradition of strong links to the community.

The aims of the Seanoige program is to bring people together in purposeful, mutually beneficial activities which promote greater understanding and respect between generations and contributes to building friendships and understanding.

Intergenerational practice is inclusive, building on the positive resources that the young and old have to offer each other and those around them.

Some of the benefits of intergenerational work include:

• All generations have a lot to both teach and learn from each other and contribute to lifelong learning.
• Tackles issues around stereotyping and ageism.
• Increases understanding and respect between older people and younger people.
• Chance to make new friends and combats social isolation and loneliness

 

One Comment

  1. Matty O'Leary says:

    Good for the CBS Primary School and “The Seanóige Club”, Great scheme which should be done on a national level if possible.

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