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.» GIVE Program continued from page 9 The students realized in time, that many of the patients were much like “16-year olds with wrinkles,” but with endless life stories and experiences to share. They saw their sense of humour still intact, but they also heard heartbreaking stories. They listened and empathized and slowly these patients became a deep and important part of their daily lives. Joni and the students meet every Thursday after school at the hospital, where they have a snack an discussion before heading out to visit the patients. The students are then on the floor from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. The dynamic of the day is open and never the same. Sometimes all the teens will be in a ward with four patients and their families, other occasions a student could end up with one patient for many hours. Joni says the conversations between the kids, the patients and their families are awe inspiring. She says that deep emotions are often stirred and many times all involved have ended up crying. Joni tells of one particular such instance in which they were with a gentleman who had fought in Word War II and had never before spoken of his experiences with his family. “After speaking with several teenagers he began to talk about the horrible experiences he had never expressed to anyone. His family listened in amazement at his openness with the kids; they had over time opened something in him he finally wanted to share. The depth THE LIVING ROOM me volunteer GIVE students have been workin« ars to create a patient lounge that will make a hee difference for the elderly at Port Perry Hospital. The hospital gave a beautiful space and the students designed an inviting, comfortable room, like a living room, where uld do activities, watch 1, ead) visit with their families; in essence a place like hom With ae ‘old piano, an electric fireplace and all the cozy touches that make a home, the living room will be in full use by the time the school year is finished. It is a dream come true that has the entire hospital excited. TRIPPCREATIVE NEW STUDIOLOCATION! 139 Queen St. Unit 4, Port Perry Enter Through HOMETOWN PRINTING 905-985-2468 info@trippcreative.ca Weddings © Portraits * Maternity * Newb 10 FOCUS - MARCH 2012 | MARCH.FOCUS.32.indd 10 The original an group of students who started the GIVE Prograntin in 2006 are pictured here with their mentor, Joni Mountford, centre back. From left are Grace Aziz, Nichole Cochrane, Joni Mountford, Samantha Whitaker, Marissa Mountford and in front, Nicole Winter. of emotion that day was something none of us will ever forget,” she says. Joni says her kids have learned to look at the elderly with a deep sense of value and they have had that value returned to them in spades. She says the elderly get enough of people looking away from them; engage them and they will return it tenfold. The teens job when they step into that hospital room is to find out what each patient requires and then over time they can develop deep skills of understanding. Says Joni “With teenagers, its all about them. This program is teaching them to be kind, find compassion, to not judge, to not blame. Every one of the kids who have come through this have become better people due to their interaction with these patients. They are changed kids. I roud of them”. When asked about the future of the program, Joni explains,” My frustration is that the GIVE program only runs four hours a week. With the increase in the number of elderly patients, I wish for much more. I wish every day these patients could have someone to talk with, walk with, just be with.” She would especially like to see more teenagers involved — she currently has a group of ten students. Although there is a waiting list of teens ready to go, the resources are not there to form new groups. On a positive note, Joni has been working with the hospital Auxiliary group to start coming and doing what the teenagers have been doing. The ‘Awsihary have wanted to do more and would love to be part of a visiting program, so hopefully Joni’s vision of broadening it will come to fruition. In the meantime, every Thursday Joni eagerly awaits her teenage volunteers. Their enthusiasm and energy drives her. Joni’s pride is evident at their commitment and their having learned to listen, to share and to give. The GIVE Program seems to have the great fortune to have a great leader. Inspiration is given, not taken. By Marjorie Fleming Focus on Scugog 42-02-20. 10:41 AM