Tea & tech sessions connect generations
Tea and the technological expertise of young people are being tapped to help connect two generations of Nelsonians.
Under the banner of the Age Concern Nelson Tasman-led AgeConnect programme, two ‘‘tea & tech’’ pilot sessions have been held to connect some young people with residents of a retirement village at Nelson.
Nelson Youth Council member Reuben Panting last week told the crowd at the inaugural AgeConnect champion awards that the results of the tea & tech sessions so far had been ‘‘astonishing’’.
‘‘What we’ve heard back from the retirement village we visited is that every single resident involved had a fantastic time and everybody, including the young volunteers, learnt so much,’’ Panting said.
‘‘Everybody involved with these sessions has gone away feeling a sense of fulfilment and connection with their local community, which is of course the ultimate goal of this concept.’’
One of the participants, 81-year-old Betty van Rooyen, said the young people who took part were fantastic.
‘‘I was totally impressed.’’
Panting said the idea came about after it was realised that one of the best ways to connect the two generations was by using the technological expertise of young people to help older people with their ‘‘sometimes unco-operative devices’’.
Under the concept, a group of young people would work alongside a group of older people, helping them resolve issues they might face with their devices and answering any queries.
‘‘A little deeper below this though is the idea to open up those channels of communication between the two groups over a cup of tea and malfunctioning wi-fi,’’ Panting said.