What is the problem?
Bashtanka, a small town in southern Mykolaiv region, came under fire at the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2024. The shelling and destruction forced many residents to flee their homes, bringing normal life to a halt. Administrative buildings, shops, and pharmacies were either damaged or closed, making life extremely challenging for those who stayed. Elderly residents faced particular difficulties—they struggled to use ATMs, reconnect with family, or send messages.
What is the solution?
The youth of the city quickly adapted to the situation and began helping the older generation master digital skills, making it easier for them to access information and stay connected. One of the first steps was organizing "consultations" for the elderly in one of the few surviving local stores. This spot became a gathering place for those who remained in Bashtanka, where they shared news, charged their phones, and supported each other in the face of new and frightening realities.
"Tears in their eyes, trembling hands, and complete confusion," is how Dasha Homerska, a young volunteer, described the condition of the elderly residents at the time. Once the situation in Bashtanka stabilized, she and her friends decided to take a more systematic approach. They developed a course for people over 55, enabling them to confidently use digital technologies.
The teenagers formed the initiative group CreActive, took part in the VolunTEENS hackathon—a volunteer educational project by the Ukrainian Volunteer Service supported by UNICEF—and launched the educational initiative "Connecting Generations."
How does it work?
Active and creative
CreActive team. Photo courtesy of the project's archive
The team from Bashtanka includes Maksym, Angelina, Dasha, and Ksenia, all students at a local school. They chose the name CreActive to represent their values, blending the words Creative and Active. The group officially came together in the winter of 2024.
"Before this project, we were already volunteering in our city, but the initiative we developed at VolunTEENS became our first significant project," says 11th-grader Dasha Gomerska.
Dasha shares that the inspiration for the "Connecting Generations" project stemmed from noticing how difficult it can be for older adults to keep pace with technology.
"My friends, classmates, and I realized that our grandparents often ask for help with tasks involving the virtual world, even though they've been using modern phones and computers for some time. When we discussed it as a team, we saw that all of us had faced similar situations," Gomerska explains.
The teenagers took the initiative by first conducting a survey among locals to identify the most pressing digital literacy challenges they faced. After coming across information about UNICEF's VolunTEENS project online, they decided to apply.
"We discussed everything down to the smallest detail and were determined to get support from the organizers to bring this project to life," says Gomerska. "Our goal was very important—we wanted to help older people finally use their phones to their full potential."
Pay utilities, master Diia app, create a group for neighbors and acquaintances
The first meeting: "Everyone was a little nervous, but everything went very well," recalls Dasha Gomerska. Photo courtesy of the project archive
Students from Bashtanka underwent training, presented their own project, received mentoring support and funds for the implementation of the initiative.
It was decided that the "Connecting Generations" project should consist of seven meetings on computer literacy. However, according to the organizers, "Connecting Generations" is not just teaching prepared material. The goal of the initiative is to bring different age groups together through education. And so it turned out.
During computer literacy and security classes. Photo courtesy of the project archive
The public space "Creative Hata" generously provided a venue for the classes. The duration of the training sessions was also determined based on a community survey, where the majority of respondents preferred 1.5-hour sessions. CreActive took this feedback into account and also included 30-minute coffee breaks for rest and socializing.
"Our mentor, Kira Okhrimenko, supported us throughout the project, and our parents helped with the preparation for the meetings," adds Gomerska.
Explanation of the digital governance Diia application and how to use it. Photo courtesy of the project archive
At the meetings, the young volunteers taught participants how to use mobile applications, sign up for an electronic queue to see a doctor, or pay utility bills. The students, the oldest of whom was 92 years old, were also interested in learning how to set up the digital governance Diia app, open a National Cashback card — a government initiative designed to encourage citizens to make cashless payments, transfer information between messengers, create neighborhood or house groups, and clear the phone's cache.
According to the young instructors, it wasn't difficult for the older participants to learn these tasks, but remembering the steps proved more challenging. To help with this, a Telegram group was created for project participants, allowing them to refresh the lesson materials at any time.
Does it really work?
Awarding of certificates. Photo courtesy of the project archive
To date, the "CreActive" team has taught 60 elderly people to navigate the Internet with confidence, without fear of encountering viruses or problems, far exceeding their initial expectation of 30-40 participants. Each graduate received a notebook for taking notes and a certificate as a keepsake.
"During the training, we realized how important our attention was for these elderly women and men. We saw how their confidence and eagerness to learn gradually returned! We happily listened to their memories over a cup of tea, looked through photos, sang together, and celebrated the energy and determination of these people, so young at heart!" shares Gomerska.
She adds that, in addition to gaining essential digital skills, each student left the training with something new. Some developed an interest in learning other languages, others began to appreciate cooking in a new way, and some even discovered a passion for cinema and now know how and where to find films to watch.
And in this photo, during a coffee break, the project participants decided to sing for their teachers. Photo courtesy of the project archive
"This project definitely brought generations closer together and became the foundation for true mutual understanding and trust. It also united older people who previously just stayed at home," says one of the project participants.
Even more useful solutions!
A project "with soul"
The project team with their students. Photo courtesy of the project archive
There are many courses where older people are taught computer skills, but what sets the "Connecting Generations" project apart?
According to Gomerska, it's the sincere and creative approach.
"We put all our effort and soul into this project. It can be said that it became our child, and we treated it with the utmost responsibility. What made it special were the trainings themselves—thanks to team games designed for better interaction, our sessions were very comfortable for everyone. Our unique approach was that we wrote down the questions our students asked during the sessions, and then discussed them at the end," says the eleventh grader.
She adds that the project is important not only because it teaches older people new technologies, but also because it provides much-needed attention. Many elderly people can't see their grandchildren or children now, but they still want to connect with someone.
"Most people advised us to choose what our soul is drawn to in the future, but to evaluate our actions with a clear, calm mind," Gomerska recalls with gratitude.
Throughout the project, the high school students themselves became much more responsible, learned to speak confidently in front of an audience, and developed problem-solving skills.
The teenagers are convinced that such a project should be held in every community or city, as it provides an invaluable experience for both the organizers and the participants who attend the training.
CreActive team gives tips for organizing similar events:
- Come up with interesting but simple material for the classes.
- Use word of mouth to attract people, as it is the most effective method.
- Plan everything in advance; even cutting the budget is possible.
- Keep the training sessions not too long, with one or two breaks.
- Believe in your idea and the activity of those around you. When you're doing a good deed, many people will join in, and everyone will want to contribute—or at least not refuse to help and support the flow of kindness.
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