With their bright smiles and a great attitude, these 28 young people come every day to the AFA Mijas Day Centre to help the users of this association of relatives of Alzheimer's patients. "We are like their grandchildren", they all tell us, which is why they assure us that getting up early in the summer to help the grandparents is not a problem.
"We have to help the grandparents with the things they do, for example, with puzzles, handicrafts and computer work", said Candela López, who is now in her third year and who confirmed that with the work of the volunteers the users achieve great progress. This was supported by Rafael Boeta, who said that "the grandparents are happier knowing that in summer we come to help them with their homework". In addition, Ainhoa Peinado added that seeing and working with new faces is something that motivates them to make an effort and do things better".
On top of that, children also have a good time, as José Antonio Núñez said: "They can make you laugh, you have a lot of fun, you can do a lot of things with them". In the same line was Mía López, who said that "I like it a lot because I feel that I help a lot, that they are very good to me and to everyone". Rafael Boeta added that "on Fridays, at the end of the day, we have an assembly or bingo, so we have a lot of fun".
- Los jóvenes atendiendo a los mayores en uno de los talleres de estimulación cognitiva.
- BEATRIZ MARTÍN
Fridays are the day on which the young people and their leaders at the centre take stock of their work. "We talk about the week, if we have had a problem with the grandparents, and we play games", said volunteer Inés Moreno.
In addition to helping the users and having a good time, these young people learn many values such as "showing more solidarity to the elderly", said José Antonio Núñez.
Now, at the halfway point of their social work, the kids assure us that they are delighted to help the grandparents and that they will be back on their next holidays. "Next year I'm going to come back because I like helping the grandparents", concluded young María Boeta together with her brother Rafael.
Intergenerational programme
This intergenerational programme, the most special one according to AFA Mijas, started on the 8th of July, after a training course, and will last until the beginning of September.
The director and psychologist of the day centre, Mari Carmen López, is very happy with the way the initiative is working and the benefits that are being achieved, as she explained, "being with young people, with new faces, really motivates and encourages the elderly".
With the experience they have gained, the young volunteers will be able to help the AFA users again during their next holidays, be it Christmas, White Week or Easter. The grandparents, as they call them, will be delighted to welcome these step-grandchildren, who bring them a lot of happiness.
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