Comber PS "Generations Together" Wins ETC National Award

The Generations Together project, run by Comber PS, is a cross-community, inter generational project project for the over 55s, and women returning to work in the Comber Area. Its unique aspect is that responsibility for tuition is shared between the ICT coordinator and twelve Primary 6 "class facilitators". The facilitators receive 6 weeks "in-house" training at the beginning to the year, not just in ICT skills, but also in teaching and communication.

The Project was conceived, and run by Gillian Stevenson, the schools ICT coordinator. More than 300 adults and 48 facilitators have benefited since its inception 4 years ago. Advertised through churches, local businesses and here on Comberonline, but principally by word-of-mouth, the course now has a 3 month waiting list!

" The project is about building confidence in the older people" says Gillian, "Some of the mums have been out of employment for some time, so this is about giving them the confidence to return to the job marketplace."

The course starts with the rudiments: word processing, internet searches and online security and builds up to the basic desktop publishing.
Creating a non-threatening environment proves, time and time again, to be the critical factor in bringing older generations back into the learning fold. The school dinner supervisor, Sandra, admits that she found the idea of subscribing to a computer course "extremely scary", but has discovered a new sense of confidence as a result of working through Generations Together, so much so that it has been a stepping-stone to gaining an accredited qualification at the local FE college.
Like many schools in NI , Comber PS has had its extended services withdrawn over the past year. Nevertheless, the school is pressing ahead with Generations Together and with other extended schools activities, albeit at a reduced level. Principal Don Halliday says this is because of the unquestionable value of the work:
"its about making children that bit more independent, that bit more confident. But sometimes the sub-plot is more significant; this kind of work also helps to dispel some of the misconceptions that older generations have about young people."

For more info on the Generations Together project,
email Gillian : comberps@yahoo.co.uk
or drop into the school to find out more.