We believe no generation should feel alone

The project was created by a group of peer counsellors who wanted to turn a real social need into something practical, warm and human. We saw that many young parents struggle to balance work, childcare and everyday responsibilities, while many active older people have valuable skills, time and energy they would love to share.

At first, it was a simple neighbourly idea — grannies helping young parents by picking children up from school or kindergarten in the afternoon. It quickly became much more than childcare: connection, trust, learning and a special bond between generations, including help with the Estonian language for families who needed it most.

Our grannies bring something no textbook can teach: patience, life experience, kindness and the ability to make ordinary moments feel special. After school, a child might come home with a granny to bake, cook a simple meal, read a favourite book or just talk about the day — spending meaningful time with someone who has stories, knowledge and skills to share, instead of simply waiting for their parents to finish work.

A granny might teach a child to make pancakes from an old family recipe, grow herbs on a windowsill, plant flowers, identify trees and birds, or explain where food really comes from. In summer, the adventures move outdoors — picking berries, foraging mushrooms, exploring nature trails or making homemade preserves, sometimes over a longer stay together in the countryside.

There is plenty of room for creativity, too. Many of our grannies have wonderful traditional skills — knitting, sewing, embroidery, crocheting and handicrafts. A granny and a child might knit a scarf, sew a small bag, make a soft toy or repair an old favourite piece of clothing together. The result is never just a handmade object; it is a shared memory and a skill passed from one generation to the next.

Children receive attention, encouragement and new experiences. Parents receive trusted support and a little more breathing space in their busy lives. And grannies gain a sense of purpose, connection and appreciation for everything they have learned over a lifetime — feeling needed and wanted matters at every age, and it matters for the mental wellbeing of older people too.

What began as a neighbourly favour has the potential to grow into a nationwide intergenerational network connecting families and active older people across Estonia. Our vision is a society where ageing is not seen as becoming less useful, but as entering a new stage where knowledge, experience and time can be shared in meaningful ways.