Reports in the press, on the radio and television, and on the internet prompted the young people affiliated with the Bolesławiec Voluntary Labour Corps to draw the local community’s attention to a very serious problem that is often the cause of many human tragedies—fraud committed using the so-called grandchild method. Although much is said about this in the mass media and various state institutions conduct preventive activities concerning the issue, fraudsters continue to prey on members of the oldest generation. Taking advantage of seniors’ gullibility, honesty and often naivety, criminals heartlessly take from them the money and possessions for which they worked all their lives.
Therefore, the young people active in the Active Club, as part of the “Activity – a Good Choice” competition, decided to support seniors and carry out preventive activities concerning the protection of older people from such fraud. The young people invited officers from the County Police Headquarters—Beata Łuczkowska and Anna Kublik-Rościszewska, the director of the Construction Schools Complex, Jacek Jurkiewicz, together with students; first-year class I c students from Primary School No. 1 with their homeroom teacher, Magdalena Czyżewska; and the director of the Day Care Centre in Bolesławiec, Danuta Zamaro.
The first stage of the entire initiative involved participants from the Bolesławiec Voluntary Labour Corps and students of the Construction Schools Complex preparing a leaflet intended to warn seniors about grandchild scams. The young people’s ingenuity and creativity were reflected in the leaflet they created, which was to serve as a tool supporting their activities. The young people distributed the leaflets they had produced among the local community, making direct contact with the social group of interest to them—seniors. During conversations with older people, the young participants explained the purpose and expected outcomes of their activities.
The initiative concluded with a formal meeting with seniors, organised—thanks to the courtesy of the head of the Day Care Centre—in the centre’s premises. The meeting, initiated and prepared by young people and children, consisted of two parts. The first, led by police officers, was informational and educational. The officers reminded seniors of the most important rules to follow when dealing with strangers. The seniors actively joined the conversation with the police officers, sharing their experiences. The commitment with which representatives of the oldest generation participated in the discussion showed that there is a great need for dialogue on the topic initiated by the Corps participants.
During the second part of the meeting, the young people and children, wishing to express their respect for the seniors, presented their artistic abilities in a performance specially prepared for the occasion, as well as in a mini-concert prepared by students of the Technical School and Vocational School of the Construction Schools Complex. One of the students sang an original song prepared especially for the seniors, whose lyrics referred to the problem discussed by the police officers.
At the end of the ceremony, the seniors were given leaflets prepared by the young people, explaining how to act in order not to become another victim of fraudsters who use increasingly new methods of manipulation.
In addition to its informational and educational character, the meeting and the entire initiative undertaken by the young people carried another message: they were a wonderful opportunity to establish and develop intergenerational bonds, the importance of which we often forget nowadays. It is important to remember that shaping young people’s attitude of respect towards older people, developing sensitivity to the needs of others, and fostering openness and tolerance are essential in preparing the younger generation for life in a multicultural and multidimensional society. The commitment and dedication with which the young people and children prepared for the meeting with the seniors, as well as the wonderful atmosphere during the visit to the Day Care Centre, show that such intergenerational meetings are greatly needed by both young people and seniors. Mrs Karolina, chairwoman of the Seniors’ Council, also drew attention to this, thanking the young people and children for the beautifully prepared ceremony.
Educators of the Bolesławiec Voluntary Labour Corps/ii