[Reporter] We're two years into the pandemic
the height of Omicron
nobody really knows when this might end
but I'm here to give you some good news
some optimism
and it's about the kids
Hi there, it's Meidi from Cyber Seniors
[Reporter] Meidi Seeneevassen is 16
and he's starting a call with a woman named Venta who's 70.
[Venta] Are you going to help me with my tablet or my cell phone?
[Reporter] During the pandemic
Meidi started to volunteer to help seniors
with their technology issues.
You're having trouble with Zoom, is that correct?
[Venta] Oh yeah, I don't even know if I want to go there.
I think this is an important time for seniors to be learning about technology
and be able to talk to their kids
even if you like you know can't physically meet them
you could like talk to them virtually.
[Venta] So now I gotta find email in here.
How do I do that Meidi?
[Reporter] It might seem like a simple thing
to help Venta with her computer
but Meidi knows that these days the stakes are high.
Do you like staying at home or are you getting bored?
[Venta] I am in my apartment looking at the walls
and I have no transportation to get away
and even go shop now, since my car got --
They need this for their mental health
they need to interact with people
they need to interact with their friends
with their family
just like
they just need to talk to someone, you know
Seeing that I'm making a difference
however small in the world
is a good feeling
[Reporter] What Rose Richardson does
along with her brother and her mom
is deliver food around Toronto
to those who need it.
[Rose] There's two main reasons that I do this.
The first is
honestly sort of personal
it's just nice to get out and
get out of the house during the pandemic
get some exercise
but much more importantly
it's a good opportunity to be able to help others in need
and who are less fortunate than you
I just want to keep it so it holds everything down so nothing flies out.
Yeah, fair enough.
[Reporter] Rose, who's 18
also started volunteering during the pandemic
because she realized there were more people in need.
Those who are immunocompromised
and can't really take the risk
of going out to get food
it's you know if it's brought straight to them
or put in an outdoor location
where they don't have to go into a store
that's a lot safer for them
and also the people who have lost their jobs over the pandemic
and are just trying to put food on the table
I think we're ready.
[Reporter] Rose and her family are members of something called the Bike Brigade..
S group of almost 1,000 cyclists
who deliver food and other supplies all over the city.
Today the family is headed to an outdoor community fridge downtown
where anyone can take what they want for free.
The poverty Rose says she's seen during the pandemic
has been an eye-opener
[Rose] Honestly just the material differences
and just that disparity
has shown me a lot about how the world works.
[Reporter] And for Rose, that's something positive she's learned during these unprecedented times.
It's so much greater than really anything else that anyone my age or younger
has faced in their lifetimes
and you're just sort of compelled to help
[Reporter] Like what Shiven Taneja is doing in his garage in Brampton, Ontario.
[Shiven] I am creating Corsi Rosenthal boxes for people who need them.
[Reporter] A Corsi Rosenthal box is a filter that has proven effective against COVID
It's affordable
and can be used in any indoor setting
[Shiven] The reason for doing this is that
since anxiety levels are rising
I figured I could do my part in helping stop the spread of COVID
so when I looked at this I was like wow
this is perfect
I can help people and do something fun at the same time.
[Reporter] Before coming up with the idea of the boxes
as it has been for many kids
the pandemic hadn't been easy on Shiven
[Shiven] The hardest part about this pandemic has probably been
mental health
I haven't been able to see my friends in a long time
school's been online and it's been tough for me
and not just me, like a lot of people
like I haven't even watched Spiderman: No Way Home yet.
[Reporter] So far, Shiven who wants to be an engineer when he grows up
has delivered 32 boxes
and he says building them makes them feel better.
[Shiven] I'm not just sitting in my room all day
I'm now doing something fun every day
building these boxes and then
this helping even more with my mental health
the encouragement people have given me
when I deliver these boxes.
[Meidi] Now you have to tell me what you see on the screen.
[Reporter] Back in Meidi's kitchen
he's still trying to help Venta
and it strikes me that Meidi and Venta represent
the two groups probably hardest hit by the pandemic:
young people and seniors
and here they are helping each other
okay okay, we'll take
we'll take a break from the Zoom one
because if -- we'll just take a break
it's kind of confusing
I feel like the seniors every day they will bring up a smile on your face
if you have a bad day at school or something like that
they are there like they're they're joking around
and they're just positive people to be around
[Reporter] Near the end of the call
it's Venta's turn to give Meidi some help.
[Venta] We have to have some laughs
and you know and
make yourself happy
yes
[Venta] Smile even though you don't feel like smiling
and you know and --
I understand
[Venta] That's how you survive this.
Keep the positive attitude up
even when it's a hard time
be happy and try to look for good out of something bad.
[Reporter] That's advice that these three kids have taken to heart in these hard times
and it's helped them keep going.
Maybe we can all learn from them?
Nick Purdon, CBC News, Toronto.