Retirement Home Project
I have had the pleasure of being one of the volunteers in a project that supports elderly people living in a retirement home. Many seniors feel lonely or require extra help with daily tasks, and we aim to make their lives happier and easier.
The residence, Woonzorgcentrum Blaret, is a warm and welcoming retirement home located next to a peaceful pond in a quiet neighborhood. Every Saturday, we spend time with the residents, playing board games, helping them, or simply talking with them.
At first, the residents were somewhat skeptical of us, and conversations felt slightly awkward. However, over time, this barrier disappeared. Now, whenever we visit, they seem genuinely happy to see us.
The residents often share their stories, experiences, and thoughts with us. Some couples, despite their old age, have remained together and inseparable, offering us a valuable opportunity to learn about empathy, respect, and what truly matters in life.
In conclusion, this project not only helps elderly people feel more valued and comfortable, but also demonstrates how small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference. It has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Magdalena K., S5PL.
The Retirement Home Program: A Life-Changing Experience
One day at the end of 2025, my English teacher announced to the class that she would be organizing a program. This optional program involves students spending one hour at a retirement home on Saturday mornings. I am someone who enjoys volunteering. I like connecting with different people and spending time with them. Therefore, I naturally applied to the retirement home project the next day.
Named Vulpia and located in Rhode-Saint-Genese (Zoomlaan 1), this retirement home provides a unique opportunity to create connections between two generations: the young and the elderly. This allows for deep and meaningful conversations and interactions between students and residents. During visits to the retirement home, students play games such as board games, card games, and others. One particularly popular activity is the “Country-City” game, where a random letter of the alphabet is chosen and participants must find words from different categories that start with that letter, such as countries, cities, objects, or animals. In addition, students are encouraged to talk with residents about any topics they find interesting to share. Conversations can range from simple questions, such as favorite foods, to deeper subjects, including politics. While students enjoy sharing their own stories, they also value listening to the experiences of residents, whether from their childhood or young adulthood.
In the common area where we usually speak with residents, there is a piano behind the tables against the wall. One day, I asked if I could play something for the residents. After receiving permission from the manager, I began playing. I performed a sonatina that I had learned during my piano lessons, as well as the well-known piece “Comptine d’un autre été” from the French film Amélie. This became one of my favorite moments of the program.
In my opinion, this program offers a valuable life experience. It teaches us how to interact with people from a different generation, which makes these exchanges especially interesting. It also gives students a sense of maturity, as we take responsibility for ensuring that residents enjoy the time we spend with them. This project positively impacts the lives of residents by connecting them with younger people, but it also changes our lives. By participating regularly and fully engaging in the experience, we learn how to interact with people in the real world, beyond the familiar environment of home or school.
For us as students, seeing residents smile shows how meaningful our presence can be. It demonstrates the positive impact we can have and how even small actions can make a difference in someone’s life. I truly enjoy participating in this project and spending time with the residents. I appreciate listening to them, playing games with them, and sometimes simply sharing stories that I personally enjoy. For students who want to contribute to society and make a difference, even in a small way, this is an excellent place to begin.
Finally, I would like to thank my English teacher, Ms. Music-Softic, who created and introduced us to this retirement home program, allowing us to experience real-life interactions and demonstrate our potential in the wider world.
“A big thank you to all the students who come to the retirement home and take part in this project.”, said Vulpia’s manager.
Eveline Homeag, S5FRD
Altersheim
Meine Freundin hat mir vor ein paar Monaten erzählt, dass Mrs Music-Softic anbietet, dass sich Schüler freiwillig melden können, um in dem Altersheim Vulpia in Brüssel auszuhelfen. Zuerst war ich mir nicht sicher, ob ich an diesem Projekt teilnehmen soll, aber ich habe mich dann doch dazu entschieden mich anzumelden. Wie sich herausstellte, habe ich diese Entscheidung nie bereut. Meine Freundin und ich sind in den letzten Monaten fast jede Woche ins Altersheim gefahren, um uns dort mit den Senioren austauschen zu können. Die Schüler und die Senioren haben sich alle in einem Gemeinschaftsraum versammelt, welches ein direkt wohltuendes Willkommensgefühl verbreitet hat. Gemeinsam haben wir Spiele gespielt und uns gegenseitig über das Leben der anderen ausgetauscht. Falls es Komplikationen zwischen den Senioren und den Schülern gab, kamen die sehr freundlichen und hilfsbereiten Heimmitarbeiter sofort zu
Hilfe.
Dieses Erlebnis ist immer mein Lieblingsteil von meinem Wochenende und ich denke, dass die Senioren dieses Gefühl mit uns Schülern teilen. Die Heimbewohner haben sich immer sehr gefreut, wenn wir gekommen sind und jedes Mal, wenn man ihnen mitteilte, dass man nächste Woche wieder kommen würde, hat sich sofort ein Lächeln auf ihre Gesichter gezaubert. Sie haben nicht oft die Gelegenheit, sich mit Jugendlichen oder überhaupt anderen Menschen zu unterhalten, daher freuen sie sich besonders. Manchmal ist es schwierig in der Früh an einem Wochenende aufzustehen, aber ich weiß, dass wenn ich die Senioren besuchen komme, es ihre ganze Woche besser machen wird. Mit diesem Gefühl mache ich mich dann auf den Weg.
Bei diesem Projekt habe ich viele neue Sachen gelernt und ich würde es jedem vom Herzen empfehlen.
Charlotte Losch, S5 DEA
