Children become adults, parents become seniors and close friends and neighbors continually grow older. Although aging is an inevitable aspect of life, many seniors find themselves within an increasingly neglected population of society. As kids mature and branch off to their separate families and lives, elder generations are often left to reside in assisted living facilities or alone, where they may only occasionally receive visits from their children and grandchildren.
While much of society has chosen to accept these circumstances as an unfortunate reality of growing older, there lies a dedicated group of compassionate young ambassadors willing to bridge these generational divide
Founded by Olentangy Orange High School senior Nishok Sakthivel, the Klotho Foundation is a student-run organization that aims to rekindle lost connections between younger generations and their older counterparts. Named after Klotho, the Greek goddess associated with the thread of life, these students aim to uplift senior citizens through various activities including arts and crafts, Bingo, and small concerts.
“I always struggled never being able to see my grandparents so far away in India,” Sakthivel said. “That’s when this passion for Klotho started. I wanted the seniors near me to at least feel connected and Klotho is my way of doing this.”
What began as a local outreach initiative at the Story Point Powell North Facility in Powell, Ohio, quickly increased in size as the impact of their efforts were observed by students and other members of the community.
“At first we started as a small grassroots organization,” Sakthivel said. “But over time as more people heard and fell in love with our motive, they joined to help, allowing us to grow to hold many events including music ones with small orchestras and bands.”
The Klotho Foundation is now a statewide organization, with chapters in over 10 different Ohio cities, including Canton. As a regional branch of the Klotho Foundation, seven students from GlenOak have sought to immerse themselves in the organization’s endeavors. Since the expansion of the foundation into Canton over the summer, students have already hosted multiple rounds of Bingo as well as casual sit-downs with residents at the Hall of Fame Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Some students have expressed their appreciation for the idea behind the foundation and the experience accompanied by spending time with the seniors.
“Everyone there is a wonder to work with,” senior Jack Wolters said. “I like the ability to be able to work with people that I would normally not, and the ability to talk to people from the older generation.”
Other GlenOak students have highlighted their respect for the message behind the initiative, citing that it is a phenomenal opportunity for students to learn directly from seniors from different backgrounds.
“I had never thought of the various opportunities I could have been presented with when I first heard about volunteering in this organization,” senior John-Michael Polnik said. “I even had the privilege of speaking with a 92-year-old woman from Alabama as we played Bingo. It really puts into perspective how widely our experiences can vary, and I even learned a little about her childhood and southern experiences all within a 90-minute visit.”
As the Klotho Foundation expands its outreach, Sakthivel has outlined his hopes to ensure that the message and principles behind its origins are not lost, and that there will continue to be an emphasis on building lasting relationships for future generations.
“Together we can bridge the gap between seniors and the youth and build compassion and lifelong relationships in the process,” Sakthivel said. “I hope this organization goes past me and ignites the flame of compassion in many other future generations.”
While this is not an official GlenOak club, those who participate are seeking volunteers. For more information on event dates and opportunities, please visit @theklothofoundationcanton on Instagram.
