Gen Connection Project

Following the success of the Gen Connection Project Pilot the project has now re-commenced with another thirty students from the Mooroopna Campus L.E.A.D and Positive Performance Psychology classes participating. Gen Connection is a collaboration between the school, Rotary club and Lighthouse.

The project connects students from Greater Shepparton Secondary College to senior members of our community who are currently socially isolated, a fact only exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

As part of the project students phone a senior buddy within the community twice a week to connect and also learn about their buddy’s life in order to write a biography which forms part of their school curriculum assessment tasks. 

Conversations are logged and students will present their learnings and discoveries in a format of their choice. The students will then gift these to their mentors.

The project concept was developed drawing in the skills of Shepparton South Rotary Club member, David Earle, and Greater Shepparton Lighthouse’s Industry Links team member, Amy Robinson. 

Last time the project ran it resulted in a total of 194 conversations involving 29 students and seniors. Lighthouse and Rotary evaluation suggested it was extremely successful in lifting the mood and level of happiness of both the student and their senior mentor.

This is something that we all need now as students participate in on-line learning, missing their social interactions of a normal school day.

Pictured is Year 9 student Muna Brown who was able to have a Zoom meeting with his mentor, Aunty Pam Pederson. Muna and Aunty Pam have already found a connection related to the mutual support of the Carlton Football Club! 

Karen Utber

Assistant Principal

Mooroopna Campus