Connecting Generations
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This document proposes several ideas for facilitating intergenerational connections. It suggests creating an activity center where older and younger people can teach classes to each other in skills like carpentry, textiles, or computers. Another idea is an annual "barn raising" event where neighbors of all ages work together on neighborhood improvement projects and then share a meal. A "patronage collective" would match childless seniors with extra money to young people seeking funding for projects in areas like art, science or technology. Other brief ideas include an intergenerational soup kitchen, an internet forum where youth can ask questions and elders can answer, and a senior helpline where older adults can offer advice or companionship to callers. The overall goal is to help
Connecting Generations
- 1. CONNECTING GENERATIONS #MassRefinement 03 The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 2. Exchange of experience Young people don’t know how to do a lot of things that older people take for granted, and old people have problems keeping up with the development of technology and emerging trends. A lack of mentors. Why don’t we take advantage of older people’s life- experience? To learn from other people’s mistakes is valuable. Younger people would greatly benefit from contact with older individuals that have been where they want to go. The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 3. How can we facilitate the exchange of experience, skills and thoughts across generations? The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 4. KEY INSIGHTS ‣ Gathering It’s often nice to have a place to go and hang out and meet new people. This could be a bar, a coffee shop, a club or what not. ‣ Sharing People like to share. Share their stories, knowledge and experience. Sharing also ties people together and makes stronger human connections. ‣ Context It’s easier to form connections when there’s a specific circumstance that forms the setting for an event or gathering. The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 5. SKILLS AROUND Connecting knowledge When you’re retired you’re probably one of the most knowledgeable people within your field. This knowledge could be useful for a lot of people lacking the experience and wisdom obtained by you. Why not make a system that facilitates knowledge sharing and makes it easy for youngsters to drink from the wisdom of the retired population? This could work in many different ways and the next slide elaborates one possible solution. The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 6. ACTIVITY CENTER Making room for people to meet across generations through activities, learning and food. Come eat and hang out, or participate in courses/ classes arranged either by seniors or juniors in different activities. The center will provide space and equipment where old and young can both be "teacher" and "students" in practical skills. Like within carpenting, textile crafts or computers. This can be organized through the day centers connected to retirement homes, but also as an elective at high schools, giving the program a trustworthy validation. Over time it would be great if relationships could form, and activities be organized outside of the center. E.g a retired carpenter could guide a young person who is renovating an apartment for the first time etc. Traditional activity centers are organized on the basis of age, but now we organize based on interests. It's not a place to kill time, but to live. The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 7. THE BARN RAISING Fix up your neighborhood with a good old-fashioned collaborative spirit. An annual fund is awarded to those who are interested in doing something positive for their neighborhood. You have to jointly work out what to do and how to do it. Let the young and old solve challenges together. After the work is finished there’s food and drinks in a casual setting. This can hopefully be a venue where one can learn from each other and create new relationships. The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 8. THE PATRONAGE COLLECTIVE Get your projects going with some help from someone with more money than time. Let childless seniors, who have more money than time left to spend it, meet young people who need capital to execute their projects. Eg. within art, science, technology, etc. Website The young pitch their ideas to the old through video, drawings, etc. The potential patrons can choose what kind of projects they are interested in and who they will support. Purpose A lot of seniors without family testament their money to organizations. By joining the Patronage Collective they can see their money be put to good use and enjoy the results. They can give young people opportunities they never got themselves when they were young. The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 9. RANDOM IDEAS ‣ Soup kitchen avec Imagine walking home hungry, stop by for dinner and just meet folks all ages ready to talk to you. Share a meal! Food for thought. ‣ The internet paper Print monthly questions from a forum where young people can wonder and old people can answer the way they’re used to. ‣ Flat sharing Elders and youngsters living as flatmates. ‣ Senior Hotline Old people like to talk on the phone, young people need someone who can listen and advice them. Phone service as a means to activate lonely people. Call to ask for help with e.g. crafts and cooking, or just to chat. The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 10. IDEAS CONCEIVED AT THE REFINEMENT CLUB’S MASS-REFINEMENT v.03 The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 11. FACILITATED BY: ‣ Benedikte Kluge ‣ Gro Larsson ‣ Johannes Rummelhoff ‣ Cyan :studio Thanks to all the participants! The Refinement Club Mating Ideas
- 12. GET IN TOUCH ON: facebook.com/TheRefinementClub twitter.com/RefinementClub The Refinement Club Mating Ideas