'Surprise': Gen Alpha and Boomers can be friends despite a 70-year age gap

Kevin Coleman was at first reluctant to accept an invitation to join a weekly program where he and his contemporaries would mix with people more than 70 years his junior.

"I thought ... 'How do you connect them? There's such a difference in their ages'," Kevin told The Senior.

"I was a bit apprehensive but once I got into it, it became much easier ... in the end we all got on very well together and I was quite surprised."

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Pearl, a student from Heritage Christian School in Port Macquarie, was equally cautious going into the program despite many in her family working in aged care, as she wondered what they'd all have in common.

Over eight weeks, eight teenagers and six seniors shared stories and skills, becoming mates by the end. They learned about each other's pasts and present, while picking up skills in crochet or learning to speak teen slang like "OG' (meaning "original", often used as a compliment for someone who's exceptional or authentic).

Program mastermind, teacher Casey Baldwin, said overall it was a tremendous success and a boost to participants' wellbeing.

"The relationships between the seniors and the teens continue to this day," she said.

This was the second time Pearl took part in the "Seen and Heard" program, with the regular catchups becoming one of her favourite days of the week.

She said it "definitely" changed her perception of older people and the fact the two generations can form friendships.

"It was a great opportunity to learn from them and mature as a person ... and I learnt I can have a friend out of it," Pearl said.

Pearl suffers from anxiety and explained she used to often skip school due to the classroom being a very anxious space for her, but making unlikely friendships and teaching new "lingo" to some older folk really lifted her spirits.

"The program made me more excited to come to school," she said.

"I now want to get more involved with community projects ... and I have more confidence talking to people and being in a social space."

Meanwhile, Kevin has a new appreciation for youngsters with his perception of youth also altered.

"They're really not kids, they are young adults. They are so intelligent," Kevin said.

"When I was going to school in the 1940's and I got my intermediate certificate in those days, we weren't prepared. We just went out into the wide world and we'd have to find our own way. But today the kids know much more. They're very, very clever."

Ms Baldwin has been working with Griffith University in researching the positive benefits of intergenerational programs, and hopes one day programs like this will be part of the school curriculum.

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