We are always pleased to support bridge building events that others organise.
As a partnership with Sam Clark, from the Canning Town Regeneration Team, Conflict and Change staff and volunteers facilitated activities to help the generations get talking together. This event was held on 22nd October 2009 at Sheltered Accommodation in Canning Town between the residents and young people from local youth group.
Very quickly the atmosphere of the meeting got lively with the human bingo activity where everybody had to go round and find out things about each other. This was a great start to the evening. Everyone then watched an interesting 1948 documentary film, called ‘Neighborhood 15’, showing their area’s history. Young , they also shared a tasty meal and played ice-breaking games.
But what was most important about this meeting is that those two - far apart - groups got together and communicated in a very cheerful and friendly atmosphere.
Everyone agreed that there are many differences between life when the residents were young and nowadays and that young people today have less freedom to go out safely. They discussed in small groups about what they like about the past and present and what their hopes for the future are. People were very excited and happy about getting to speak with each other.
At the end everyone had a turn to say what they enjoyed about the evening and here are some comments that were repeated many times: “a sense of togetherness” “the chance to communicate” “the evening was educational” “mixing with elderly people” “It is nice to have young people here”.
Shukri, one of the volunteers, says: ‘It was amazing to see the two generations getting together and communicating, sharing ideas. I live in Canning Town so it was also a great opportunity to meet local people’.
