It was about zeitgeist, moral courage, the future and all the stuff that moves us when 23 people aged 80 and over met 23 MIttelschule pupils aged 14/15 in Würzburg on July 19, 2023.

At first glance, the realities of life for young and old people don't seem to have much in common. However, many questions about life concern old and young people alike: What is important to me in life? What about the war in Ukraine? What worries drive me? What do I do when I feel lonely? What makes me happy? What is friendship? What is love? Am I valuable? What are my strengths? Where and how can I contribute them? Where do I see myself in 5 years? What do I want from the future? What can I do about it myself?

In the workshop led by our Chairwoman Pia Beckmann, young and old explored these questions. Together, the pupils from Gerbrunn secondary school learned in exercises, in intimate one-to-one discussions and in working groups of four what it is like to talk to someone who grew up three generations away from you. The older people also gained a great deal of insight. Of course, there was also time for fun, eating and drinking together and a surprise song by a pupil from the Pestalozzi School in Würzburg.

The results were very convincing. They ranged from homework help to the use of vacant buildings as pop-up generational meeting places and joint urban gardening projects.

LUA, a young artist from the Pestalozzi School, who also took part in the workshop, presented a song she had composed herself on the piano: "You are my Home", a declaration of love to her Granny. In it, she describes her relationship with her grandmother in Brazil. Enthusiastic applause from young and old alike rewarded her sensitive and musically convincing performance.

Lua's music video and the workshop video will be published on social media. On our YouTube channel, these and our other videos can be used by everyone for educational work as well as youth and intergenerational dialog.

The event was organized by pics4peace e.V. and youngcaritas. The workshop took place as part of the annual "Generations in Dialogue" program of the City of Würzburg and the Seniors' Representation.

Photo, source: https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/plot-twist-millennials-are-getting-the-ok-boomer-treatment-from-gen-z-20200623-p555dj.html