The Social Technology Bureau (STB) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently conducted a pre-testing session for an intergenerational project that aims to enhance good relationships between young children and the elderly.
The project seeks to create a dynamic community where wisdom from the elderly is shared with the younger generation. Titled “Apo Ko: Kwento ni Lolo’t Lola, Gabay ng Kabataan” (My Grandkids: Stories from Grandpa and Grandma, Guide for Children), the project also aims to foster mutual understanding, cooperation, and empathy between the two generations.
Image Credit: Department of Social Welfare and Development – DSWD / Facebook
DSWD Pre-tests Materials for “Apo Ko: Kwento ni Lolo’t Lola” Project
The pre-testing session for the project took place last Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) in Quezon City, according to a DSWD press release. The project will be piloted early next year, in February 2025.
What is the Project About?
The project highlights the importance of intergenerational learning. It will gather older persons from the DSWD’s Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCFs), who will impart life lessons, traditional knowledge, cultural stories, and values to children ages 4 to 5 years old from select Child Development Center (CDCs).
Project Objectives
The “Apo Ko: Kwento ni Lolo’t Lola, Gabay ng Kabataan” project seeks to benefit young children as well as the elderly.
Through this project, young children could develop life skills and good values like kindness, respect, and responsibility. They would also have respect and appreciation for their cultural heritage.
At the same time, through this initiative, the elderly would feel valued and appreciated. Even as they age gracefully, they could stay engaged and “empowered” as they share their knowledge and values to young children.
Image Credit: Department of Social Welfare and Development – DSWD / Facebook
Preparations for the Project
Prior to the pre-testing session, the STB held a Session Guidebook “writeshop” for the intergenerational project last Monday, November 4. Social workers, psychometricians, STB personnel, and houseparents from the DSWD Field Office – National Capital Region (NCR) and Field Office Region 4A – CALABARZON attended the event.
The four-day writeshop was held at Greenhills Elan Hotel in San Juan City, a DSWD press release reported. Residents from the Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Special Cases (GRACES) — who are target beneficiaries of the project’s pilot implementation — also joined the activity.
Image Credit: Department of Social Welfare and Development – DSWD / Facebook
“Apo, Lolo at Lola” Sessions
Notably, the said writeshop focused on planning “Apo, Lola at Lolo” (Grandkid, Grandma, and Grandpa) sessions, which are the main component of the project.
As preparation for these sessions, elderly volunteers from DSWD’s residential care facilities will be oriented and trained to teach children ages 4 to 5 years old from child development centers.
Final Thoughts
The “Apo Ko: Kwento ni Lolo’t Lola, Gabay ng Kabataan” sounds like an amazing project, indeed! The elderly have plenty of life stories and lessons to share, and young children will certainly learn a lot from them. The project also serves as a simple yet effective way of teaching cultural and traditional values to the next generation.
To learn more about this initiative, check out this article about the DSWD’s Intergenerational (INTERGEN) program.