Juniors HELPING Seniors
Teaching technology to older adults
We are a service club of students from Cincinnati area high schools who visit older adults in community settings and help them 1:1 with their smart devices and getting connected to the world around them.
At each session, we present a 10-15 minute topic such as "Get hAPPy" or "Gmail 101" and then each older adult participant is paired with a student to learn more about the topic or tackle any issue with their smart device.
In Every 90 Minute Session
Participants Receive...
A 10-15 minute topic presentation on essential online skills
A hand-out of the session’s topic
A manual for their smart device if needed
A binder to store each session’s materials
How-to Videos for the Basics
If you miss a session or just need some extra practice, we have recorded some very basic instructional videos and there are more on the way.
Let us know what tech you need to know and we are happy to make a video for it.
Like us, Generations on Line, promotes reducing isolation by providing easy, free digital skills tutorials for older adults
We Prove Every Project
Visit Generations on Line at www.golhelp.org
100% Goes to The Field
Words from our Students and Seniors
Juniors HELPING Seniors creates an intergenerational bridge that benefits both our students and older adults.
Karen H. received help with her flip phone and then her new smart phone and the students helped her with notifications and accessing all her photos on her laptop.
The Burns brothers, Jonah and Paxton, have been volunteering since 7th grade and they both have logged in over 100 hours helping at JHS.
Mary S. is a regular and she brings her smiling face to our session every month and has learned something new each time.
A big "Thank you" to our wonderful partners
We have had the opportunity to work with outstanding senior centers, affordable housing residences and non-profits whose core missions are relatively the same as ours–helping to empower older adults to become independent, healthy and active–and now more than ever, connected.
Our Leadership
This is definitely a group effort and we are very thankful to the teacher and students that have helped us grow our service club.
Co-Founder, Team Lead--Owen Berndt
Owen started JHS, with his sister Zoe, in 7th grade when he and his friends met at an independent living residence in Cincinnati to help older adults learn technology. Once in high school, they expanded the program to 4 more locations and created a hybrid topic presentation/1:1 teaching format for each session. In his spare time he loves soccer, playing the piano and beating his sister at 2010’s trivia.
Co-Founder, Team Lead--Zoe Berndt
Zoe started JHS, with her brother while she was attending college. While Owen ran the sessions for the first 2 years in Cincinnati, Zoe created the material and did the back-end administration. Once she graduated, she joined Owen in running the program in Cincinnati. They expanded the program to 4 more locations and created a hybrid topic presentation/1:1 teaching format for each session. In her spare time, which isn’t much as a first year law student, she enjoys book-binding, reading and being entertained by her dog Walden.
Tech Lead--Miles Niemeyer
Miles joined JHS his sophomore year and brings his website and technology expertise to the club. In his spare time he enjoys golf and playing guitar.
Student Trainer Lead--Jack Putman
Jack was an original member of JHS back in 7th grade and became our head trainer who makes sure each student is prepared to talk to the older adults with kindness, patience and respect. In Jack’s spare time he loves working out and hanging out with his friends.
Communications Lead--Jack Doster
Jack was an original member of JHS in 7th grade and became our communications lead. He creates many of our manuals that are step-by step instructions for a variety of smart devices and tablets as well as builds our Zoom presentations when needed. In Jack’s spare time, he loves playing basketball for his high school, watching sports and spending time with his friends and family.