Hollyhill kids teach hi-tech skills to seniors

TRANSITION year students from Terence MacSwiney Community College have been teaching the senior citizens of their community how to use computers and applications like Snapchat as part of an Age Action initiative.

The five-week programme, coordinated by Julie Oates, regional project officer of Getting Started and Ann Masterson of Terence MacSwiney Community college, saw the students and seniors meet up every Thursday from 2-4pm in Hollyhill library.

Hollyhill librarian Elizabeth McNamara said it was a great experience for all involved.

“It was a great success,” she said.

“Everybody really enjoyed it. The students would show them how to use computers and also, smartphones and the applications on them.” 

The senior citizens received certificates of achievement from Age Action Ireland while the students took part as part of a Junior Certificate School Program (JCSP) called Getting Started.

More than 27,000 Irish people have benefited from Age Action's Getting Started Computer Training programme, which provides training in computers, smartphones and the Internet for people over the age of 55 all over Ireland.

“These are fulfilling worthwhile projects that people gain from,” said Ms McNamara.

“The teenagers learned teaching skills that they can bring home to their own families, parents and grandparents and the seniors also learned how to use more technology.

“It will have a huge knock-on effect,” she added.

“Some of the senior citizens were saying how much they learned and how great the students were to work with.” 

The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Tony Fitzgerald visited the group last Thursday to congratulate them on completing the programme.

“He was so generous to give up his time and come and speak with the students and seniors,” said Ms McNamara.

Hollyhill library would be happy to host further initiatives in the future, according to Ms McNamara.

“Full credit should go to the students from the school and the seniors and Age Action Ireland for such great work," she added.