GRAND Magazine - September/October 2019 - 24

grandparent of the year
Full disclosure: GRAND Magazine is the USA
representative of Learn with Grandma.
When Valerie contacted us, we jumped at
the chance to be part of such an innovative
program.
Valerie observed that not many elders were
using the internet, but the younger people
sure were. She also believed that the internet
was dividing the generations. Fortunately for
us all, she had an idea on how she could use
the internet to help bridge the generations,
and she got excited!
"I love my Ugandan dress which was a gift from the
Headmistress of Trinity College Nabbingo. This beauLearn with Grandma's mission is to help
tiful school was my 'home' for two months in 2014.
empower young and old by uniting the genI lived with the nuns & needed their help with the
erations; sharing ideas of how to use the
sash. It was so funny because they don't wear these
dresses either." Valerie Wood-Gaiger
internet as a bridge and help break down
the digital age gap by sharing skills, love and
knowledge across the generations in ways that are a chievable, affordable, sustainable
and fun!
According to Valerie, "Learn with
Grandma (LWG) has no income. My only
income is the UK state pension. I cannot
fund projects, so I decided that the best way
I can help is by sharing ideas and making
practical suggestions on how people of
varied ages could connect and encourage
self-sufficiency."
For many years, Valerie worked on
European Union projects. She stated, "They
were all enjoyable, but not sustainable. All

Valerie in 2018 with
five of her seven
great-grandchildren.
24 GRAND

SEPT-OCT 2019

If you would like to help Valerie and Learn
with Grandma, contact Valerie WoodGaiger MBE via the Facebook group Learn
with GRANDma USA
www.facebook.com/groups/
LwGInternational
You can contribute HERE

An idea takes flight

Val is spreading her message as far as she can. When the seed falls on good
ground Val is inspired to keep on trying. Sarah Lewis, a primary teacher in Wales, is a
good example.
In a note to Valerie, Sarah said, "I just want to say thank you. I heard you speak last
summer. You inspired me to set up intergenerational groups in my community. We
now have a choir moving from strength-to-strength, a ukulele group; children being
led by people over the age of 60 and a gardening club for seven to 90-year-olds. The
oldest member of the choir is 93-years-young and the youngest member is seven. It's
all thanks to you and your truly inspirational words. A very heartfelt thank you to you,
Valerie."

Sarah took action. This project won an award
for the Best Community Project in Wales.

Sarah & Valerie are now working on the next project to create an ebook about a
local hero.
Valerie believes and we agree, we can all learn from each other and have fun
together. Val admits that she does not know how to go about doing everything
to make LWG successful. But over the months that GRAND Magazine has been in
contact with her we're confident she will find a way.
Now Val has another ambition. She wants to turn Learn with Grandma into an
International foundation that will live on indefinitely.

GRAND Magazine - September/October 2019

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