Bridging generational divides through service

A group of junior youth in Edmonton, Alta. has cultivated a relationship with the residents of a local seniors’ home.

Youth and junior youth in front of the seniors’ home.

In the Terwillegar neighbourhood in Edmonton, Alta., the younger generation has been finding meaningful ways of connecting with their elders. This has taken the form of an ongoing collaboration between the junior youth spiritual empowerment program and a local seniors’ home.

In November, a group of high school students began studying Ruhi Book 1: Reflections on the Life of the Spirit, which asks participants to consider how service to others is an expression of a human being’s true nature. Alongside this study, the students held regular day camps for junior youth aged 11-15 and gained experience working with those a few years younger than themselves. Naturally, the youth and junior youth began to think about the needs of their community.

The junior youth program in Terwillegar has a history of visiting the local seniors’ home. For example, about three years ago a different junior youth group delivered cards to the residents. This past winter, the youth approached the recreation coordinator of the home to explore how they could be of service to the residents of the facility.

Their initial idea was to plan a game of Bingo for the seniors, however, after consulting with the recreational coordinator, the youth learned that many of the residents were not physically or cognitively able to manage this activity. Instead, the coordinator shared that the simple act of reading to the seniors was a need.

Before embarking on the service project, the junior youth studied a lesson from the text Walking the Straight Path about combating the forces of estrangement that inhibit community life.

This was a confirmation for the youth as many of the junior youth who attend the camps struggle with literacy. Reading to the seniors would be an opportunity to further develop these skills and gain confidence. It was further suggested that they could read passages from the Bible, which was met with enthusiasm.

Maya Asdaghi, one of the youth tutors, shared, “A few of the junior youth are Christian themselves so they were quite excited that reading the Bible was a way to connect with the seniors and it was something personal to them as well. It was almost a competition because there were so many of them that wanted to read it.”

A junior youth reads aloud to a senior resident.

Twelve junior youth and youth participated in the service project. Several said they felt less self-conscious around the seniors, even when challenged to read loudly. Not all residents wanted to be read to, but this was met with understanding. Most of the seniors were very receptive and thankful for the service.

Of the seniors, Ms. Asdaghi shared, “Oftentimes they feel like when they are in these kinds of facilities, the outside world has forgotten about them. That really resonated with the junior youth, and they felt that they were doing something meaningful by connecting with the seniors and reminding them that they are cared about.”

The visit also had a positive impact on the junior youth. Some of them are new to Canada and live far away from their own grandparents. They felt that connecting with the seniors was meeting their need to converse with and learn from their elders. A junior youth who wanted to become a teacher had a chance to speak with a retired teacher. A youth in his last year of high school is considering a career with the elderly after enjoying the experience.

Other service opportunities at the seniors’ home have since been brought to the attention of the youth, for example, the need for volunteers to help with spring yard work at the centre. They are also exploring the possibility of introducing some of the prayers and quotations from the Bahá’í Writings they are learning in their study of Ruhi Book 1 to the seniors. Although residents spend most of their time in the facility, it is notable that they are now connected to a larger educational process with people of all ages.