GJ’s Wisdom Trail

In December 2007 Greyton in South Africa hosted the inaugural ‘Wisdom Walk’ , choosing to time it for Christmas as an alternative to the Santa’s Grotto experience.  A discovery of the greatest gift of the real Christmas spirit, the gift of giving, a programme offering purpose to the elders and an opportunity to the youth

This year GJ are looking for partners to launch this programme nationwide and will support affiliated charities and organizations wishing to host and develop this programme and other inter-generational value based activities.  GJ will assist in the first year with administration and sponsorship promotion.  GJ will work in partnership with each participating group to establish an annual ‘wisdom trail’ of life values.  The programme is designed to teach the values of ‘care and share’, giving the eldest generation an opportunity and purpose to deliver these values, generating and lead respect between generations.  Our preference is to involve youth to manage and coordinate the event.  Funds raised will be used to develop the programme for next year the balance to support local projects.

What are the objectives of this programme?

• Promote kindness and respect in the youngest generation
• Create a rewarding activity for the eldest generation
• Encourage and reward disadvantaged youth to manage the project
• Create funds for local inter-generational projects

 

What is the ‘Wisdom Trail’?
It’s a walk with social care challenges for the youngest generation (5 to 11), a walk guided by wise elders through challenges to develop elder consideration and inter-generational respect.  Rewarded at the end of the trail with an gift and a wisdom story, a present for their kindness and a further present to give (optional).  The walk will be preceded by a wise elders chat on values of kindness.  A crossroads fork in the path is a choice of a short lonely dark passage to represent greed( an ugly cold image of a person trying to entice them down this path) or a long candlelit path to kindness.  The wise elder will influence the children to take the latter lit path, on route the challenges begin.

The first challenge, an elder has no sight, how does the blind man cross the pathway to water his tree so fruit will grow?  The children are influenced to guide the man to water his tree and vegetables.  The wise elder then praises the children for their deed and asks, “you have done well today helping this man”, twiddling a ball of string, he asks,” but how can you help him tomorrow?”  Influencing the children to tie the string around the tree for a guide.

The second challenge, an elder has ‘Parkinson’s’ disease and cannot hold his hand steady to drink from the cup, how can you help this elderly woman drink?  The children are influenced to hold the cup, after praising the children he asks, “you have done well today but how can you help this elderly lady tomorrow, after you have gone?” Rolling a large leaf he influences the children to make a straw

The Third Challenge, etc. 

On completion of the trail, the children arrive at the horse and cart or some other natural environment, the children are told a values story of kindness, thanked for their ‘journey of life’ given a gift and asked if they would like another small gift to someone in need.   The children are then asked to write a story about kindness at Christmas, ‘the art of giving ‘ and to leave it out for father Christmas this year so he can make a book of all the messages and pass to other children who have not shared the learning today.