Seniors and Co.

VOLUNTEER STUDENTS FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN SECONDARY SCHOOL AT THE NURSING HOME Inspired by our school`s ongoing "Solidarity Forever" project and by the Comenius "Believing in Humanity "project, students and accompanying teachers have developed a volunteer activity in the "Virgen del Mar" nursing home, close by. The object of this experience is the further education in values of our students. They freely dedicate a small part of the weekend to bring some joy and youth to elderly people who are so needy of affection and attention. In this way we act in our immediate area, and we believe it is very positive for both sides. We started this activity in the academic year 2011-2012 with the firm hope that this beautiful idea might carry on into the future. After the great experience of last year and being happy with the attitude and growth in sensitivity of the students, we started the 2012-2013 academic year with renewed energy and confident that our interest, enthusiasm and effort have been worthwhile. Students between 12 and 17, authorized by their families, are the protagonists of this volunteer experience. They are chosen on the basis of their interest in this activity. This year we have 40 students involved on alternate Fridays in term-time, divided into two groups accompanied by different groups of teachers who are also volunteers. The activities carried out are scheduled and directed by the supervising teachers in coordination with the managers or workers of the residence: keeping company, board games, chatting, reading poems or stories, walks, songs and music, dance, cookery workshops and crafts, etc. The elderly participants in this experience are a group of between 20-30, who are in relatively good health and who communicate well. Most of them are very old and many have mobility problems. They look forward to our weekly visits and are happy to see us and participate in the activities. This year there are more elderly attending our meetings, and they always grateful. This school year there are 14 teachers involved and also a school secretary. The director and workers of the residence are delighted with our partnership and take photos of the meetings, come to see us and exchange impressions. For the record, we have produced a series of documents about what is done every day, the students and teachers involved, etc. After a month of starting this voluntary work in the new school year, we are increasingly happy and confident that what we do is useful, makes many people happy and enhances the comprehensive education of our students whose sensitivity, maturity and willingness are quite admirable. We show you here some pictures of the activities carried out during the month of November, and the parents authorization form for this extracurricular activity, which they sign giving their permission. It includes the dates each group will attend the residence, and on the back, provides the parents some information about volunteering.