Connect the Generations Online

Despite leaving campus, many students are continuing — even expanding on — their service-learning projects. Motivated to help, and with time to spare, they’ve figured out ways to connect with children, senior citizens, and other people in the community who may be lonely or need support.

Maddy Totman, a senior at Hamilton College, chats with her elementary-school buddy.Courtesy of Hamilton College

Hamilton College students who were part of a buddy program with a local elementary school have been using FaceTime with their young buddies to do craft projects, practice a sport or yoga, or just talk. Students have also expanded a mentoring program with middle-school students and started a high-school virtual tutoring program. A group of classmates, primarily athletes and sorority and fraternity members, is sending cards and letters to people who are in residential facilities where they can’t receive visitors during the pandemic.

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Several students who were not previously involved with service projects have signed up to help, says Amy James, director of community outreach at Hamilton. “They seem really hungry for the opportunity to give back.”

The same is true elsewhere. Two University of Texas at Austin students, Aditi Merchant and Allen Zhou, created a website to match old people and young people, based on mutual interests, for conversation. “More than 63 percent of Americans report feeling lonely,” notes the website, Big & Mini. “Let’s change that.” More than 100 college students have signed up. So have more than 70 senior citizens.

Connecticut College students have virtually mentored middle-school students and developed a “snail mail” pen-pal program. At Hiram College, in Ohio, outreach efforts include Zoom performances for residents of a local assisted-living center. It has been “really special to see the looks on their faces as we play for them,” says Michael Waddell, a visiting instructor of music and director of bands at Hiram, “especially since they really don’t have access to a lot of other activities.”

Many of these projects may continue even after the pandemic, says James, of Hamilton. “This has helped us forge even stronger partnerships.”

How is your institution contributing to the “war effort” against the coronavirus? Tell us here.