Pope Francis is a champion for the value of grandparents in building society.
POPE FRANCIS
'Grandparents are the link between generations, passing on the experience of life and faith to the youth.'
And he has consistently advocated for inter-generational dialogue.
POPE FRANCIS
'Please, grandparents and young people, do this: come together, talk, and dialogue. This will make everyone happy.'
The platform Adopta un Abuelo, or adopt a grandparent, is putting the Pope's words into action. The organization seeks to connect young people in Spain with the elderly by matching each volunteer with their adopted grandparent, to accompany one another and share their lives.
AITANA MÉNDEZ
Adopt a Grandparent
'Sharing your time with people who have lived so much and have so much to teach us can only bring good things, and of course it doesn't only go in one direction, but older people can also enjoy it and get so much from this companionship which gives them life.'
Volunteers and grandparents participate in fun activities like going out for drinks, and cooking meals together. Adopt a grandparent also produces a web series on grandparent-influencers, and they even have an app that connects volunteers to their adopted grandparents from wherever they may be.
AITANA MÉNDEZ
Adopt a Grandparent
'We have grandparents and volunteers that have participated in the program for three years or more and end up creating very special relationships in which they practically consider themselves family.'
The organization is bringing generations together by helping young people not only adopt a grandparent, but a friend for life.
JM
