The Hand-Me-Down Project: Passing Generational Knowledge

The Hand-Me-Down project is a new initiative led by Milton Public Library for the purpose of cataloguing and disseminating the knowledge of seniors in our community, with a focus on intergenerational relationships between seniors and youth.

Share generational knowledge with the next generation, focusing on areas including tradeskills, crafting and culinary expertise, while supporting skills-building as well as intergenerational dialogue and cultural exchange.

• Skills-building, repair and Sustainability
• Re-engaging community members with practical, tactical experiences
• Bringing generations of community members together, reducing social isolation
• Promote volunteerism among seniors and other generations
• Engage seniors in the community through mentoring others
• Support the social participation and inclusion of seniors
• Provide capital assistance for new and existing community projects and programs for seniors

Developing a tinkering program where seniors would support youth in small repairs, which could include appliances, small engine repair, bike maintenance

The development of automotive repair program in which seniors teach youth the basics of car maintenance and upkeep

Developing a crafting seminar or series of seminars which could focus on sewing or tailoring of clothing, but could also include traditional skills such as beadwork or quilting, preserving and passing on knowledge of more traditional skills to future generations

Culinary workshops, where seniors lead cooking and baking seminars, focusing on family recipes and skills passed down through generations and showcasing varied backgrounds and cultures

Connect with local partners to identify diverse seniors in Milton to establish a cohort of participants. Work together to develop programs, lesson plans. Identify materials, resources, space required.

Identify youth to participate in the project, and match them with seniors and their skills. Start Hand-Me-Down classes! MPL staff offer support when needed for all programs.

Gathering all participants to celebrate the end of the program, share their experiences, plan for the future, and share our documentation with future youth