July 6th, 2018 marked a special day as family, friends and library staff gathered at the Parkview Village auditorium to celebrate the graduation ceremony of the Seniors Intergenerational Tech Training course.<\/p>\n
One by one, faces beaming, the seniors walked proudly into the room dressed in black graduation gowns and caps. They are among the first group to complete the eight-week program offered by the Whitchurch-Stouffville library and supported by the federal New Horizons for Seniors grant. The program pairs seniors and teens one-on-one in a classroom environment with a professional instructor to teach seniors how to use iPads and to encourage new social connections.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was incredible to see and feel the excitement and sense of accomplishment amongst the seniors as they progressed throughout the eight-week program,\u201d said program instructor, Brian Freedman. \u201cSo, capping all of this off with a formal graduation ceremony seemed the most appropriate and natural way to mark this amazing milestone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Feedback submitted by the senior participants expressed how important and meaningful the program was to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can use an iPad and be alive,\u201d exclaimed one. \u201cGave me the feeling that I\u2019m not really that old,\u201d said another.<\/p>\n
Other comments included, \u201cThank you so much for the opportunity to have this learning. Children get to learn and we want to learn too.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means so much to be able to chat and have face time with my relatives in Australia, especially my 97-year-old aunt.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are lots of things to discover and do research on. I can find more and make connections with people to stay in touch, exchange ideas, information and thoughts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe interactions with the students make this training special. I made friends with a student and we talked about many things and it is amazing that we did not feel the age difference.\u201d<\/p>\n