Last month, the students in 9D1 spent an afternoon at Otumarama Rest Home, helping the elderly residents out with any issues they might be having with electronic devices such as smartphones and computers.

The afternoon was set up through a local organisation called Age Connect and facilitated by Nayland Science teachers Glenis Paul and Graeme Bloomfield.

Ms. Paul explained that the trip fulfilled two important purposes.

“It helped to create meaningful links within our community and helped increase the skill and confidence level of residents with their devices and technology. The friendships that developed were quite special to see,” she said.

Mr Bloomfield said the students found it to be a positive experience.

“I saw them fizzing about the experience as they walked back. They enjoyed connecting with those folks as fellow humans and enjoyed hearing about some of their life experiences,” he said.

Ms Paul said that next year, they hoped to regularly take students over to visit the residents every four weeks.