During 2009, Mary Nally was contacted by a local school asking their members to talk to the children about their school days. Mary and her team discussed how they could add value to such a visit and they came up with the idea of bringing some old objects from childhood to show and discuss with the kids. Over a number of months members began to collect old artifacts from their homes, attics and barns to illustrate the spoken word. Since then the project has gone from strength to strength proving effective both in primary schools and in nursing homes.
Why it Matters
Helping to foster contact between old and young is particularly important at this time of demographic change. Bringing older and younger people together can help break down barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding between the generations. The programme also provides a unique learning experience for kids.
In a nursing home setting, it has been shown to be extremely useful in involving all residents in a communal social experience and in particular quieter residents or even those suffering with dementia who have come to life when engaged with the exhibition.
Isikhathi:
A local leader will need
approximately 2-3 hours a week
to set up and run The Way We
Were programme in local schools
or nursing homes. The programme
can run as a once off or as a series
of workshops depending on
availability of time and resources.
Izixhumanisi