It may have been a hot and sunny school day, but 11 students from Wellington Heights Secondary School’s (WHSS) alternative education program were hard at work on June 1 building a ramp for a local senior.
Palmerston resident Joyce Roberts, who suffers from the effects of contracting poliovirus as a child, said getting out of the house is difficult.
“I can’t do steps at all now, without someone on my arms helping me because I fall down a lot,” she said.
Through a partnership between the Seniors’ Centre for Excellence, the Truth About Youth program with WHSS, and the Mount Forest Family Health Team, Roberts was able to have a ramp built at her home to improve her mobility.
WHSS alternative education teacher Dave Griffiths said both teenagers and seniors can face stigma and ageism.
“We wanted to have a program that bridges the gap between them, so we wanted these guys to work with the seniors because the seniors have the knowledge and the experience and teenagers have the energy and the skills to do it,” Griffiths said.
“It’s giving back to the community.”
The students designed the ramp and Griffiths, a licenced carpenter, helped secure the required approval.
Building the ramp helps not only Roberts, but also the students. Through the Truth About Youth program, the students will earn two high school credits as well as valuable skills.
“It’s been a huge confidence booster for them. They are seeing what they are capable of and seeing what they can do for the community,” said Gabriella Ieropoli, community youth resiliency worker with the Mount Forest Family Health Team.
The student who named the program said teenagers and those in the alternative education program have a bad reputation, and the “truth about youth” is that they are good people capable of doing good things in the community, said Ieropoli.
“I see a lot of the students in the alt. ed. program face a lot of challenges and different barriers and they have some pretty negative stereotypes about them. And so with this program we’re changing that,” she said.
Grade 12 student Dillon Kelly said, “It’s nice to see people benefitting from what we do.”
Grade 10 student Parker Snyders added, “It’s a good thing to do for the community.”
Seniors’ Centre for Excellence program coordinator Helen Edwards said the ramp will enhance Roberts’ quality of life.
“The students are coming together to produce this ramp that is going to build valuable skills for them, but the quality of life for this senior is going to be a significant impact in a positive way,” she said.
Edwards said through community and private donations, as well as a contribution from Roberts, the Seniors’ Centre was able to raise the money for the cost of the ramp, which was $1,280.
Ieropoli said the group is looking for projects for the fall. For more information contact her at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7603 or gieropoli@mountforestfht.com.
