Project H.U.G.™

Project H.U.G. ™, Helping Unite Generations, is an ongoing Service Learning Youth Program for young people (K-12th grade) that Light Heart developed to assist schools in providing students skills to become future leaders and stewards of our communities, while at the same time increasing the visitation to our elders and promoting awareness of the isolation they experience in facilities.

This program brings a sense of purpose and social responsibility to our youth by enhancing self-esteem and creating a sense of belonging. Project H.U.G. ™ shows children and youth that they have the ability to give of themselves, and make a difference while learning how to maintain the things that are precious to us as human beings:

• respect • compassion • responsibility • integrity • citizenship

Project H.U.G.™ visits are not field trips.

They are also not volunteer or community service projects. Service learning programs differ from volunteer or community service projects in that they are rooted in a structure that is longer term and allows students to gain deeper understandings as to the relevance of their service. Teachers and coordinators facilitate a curriculum in the classroom that assists students to relate the service experience to their personal and career growth, to their family and to larger community issues. As the students develop ongoing relationships with those they are serving and are given ways to reflect on their interactions, students begin to connect the dots and grow awareness of what healthy communities can look like and how to be a part of creating them. Inspiring ownership of the service experience is an important component of Project H.U.G.™

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Benefits of Project H.U.G.™
Why Teach About Aging?

Community Impact

In 2005, H.U.G.™ engaged over 300 students across the Verde Valley to visit 700 elders. The student-elder interactions create a tapestry that has a far reaching effect beyond the classroom and resident rooms. School and facility staff, the resident’s families, student’s parents and our community partners have all expressed how much they have benefited from the intergenerational programs and visits. Last year it was estimated that 10,000 people were affected in some way by Project H.U.G.™.

These visits help to prevent unnatural age segregation while applying the strength of one generation to meet the needs of another. It gives our seniors the opportunity to mentor and share their culture, knowledge, skills and values to the next generation while creating positive meaningful relationships.

Participating Schools

Intergenerational Community Teams

Light Heart’s Intergenerational Community Teams are part of a continuing effort to enhance our Project H.U.G.™ program, engage more community members, and build a team environment that ensures successful, quality experiences. Older adults, teachers, elementary students, college interns, elder residents and staff of the facilities and Light Heart staff come together to moderate the varied Project H.U.G.™ activities such as gardening, biographical interviewing, visiting, photography and art between the schools and senior residential facilities.

"It has been a delight to have your students be interested in our residents. They love to talk about their lives and have someone take interest. They had a fun and hope your students enjoyed it too. Looking forward to your next visit. Thank you from the staff and residents of Cottonwood Village."

All members of these teams take part in
Inter-generate !™