Program pairs students with seniors for housing starting at 781.50 euros a year

Students in the Netherlands frequently struggle to secure affordable rooms. Connect Generations places participating students in senior housing complexes at a reduced cost, Hart van Nederland reports.

According to the Connect Generations website, students pay 781.50 euros upfront for the first year. There is no refund if they leave within that year. Each subsequent year costs 723.50 euros. The care organization also charges about 50 to 80 euros per month for gas, water, and electricity.

In exchange, each student organizes 20 hours of activities each month for the residents. In exchange, each student organizes 20 hours of activities each month for the residents.

According to the Connect Generations website, the activities include baking pancakes, playing Bingo, shopping together, solving computer problems. The pairs can also, for example, walk a dog together or play Rummikub.

The arrangement provides low-cost living space for the students. It also produces lower levels of loneliness among the older residents, according to the program description.

One student described the experience on the website: “Through the social activities that we carry out, we broaden our view and get to know many different people and cultures. The most important lesson we learn is that as students and residents, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder together. We learn from each other, and we need each other to make activities a success.”