INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS BRIDGE AGE GAP
Intergenerational Projects foster personal interaction and sharing of skills and knowledge between age groups. Our societies know little about how to organize these activities, yet early studies suggest that the benefits of such programs can be considerable.
The aging of populations has become an issue of enormous importance for policy-makers. The UN General Assembly approved the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging, highlighting the importance of intergenerational solidarity in households, communities and nations.
A study showed that 64% of Europeans feel that there are insufficient opportunities for young and old to work together and to meet each other. China is affected by the consequences of an aging population. In the US a growing number of senior citizens live in age-segregated "leisurevilles".
Worldwide, a growing amount of spaces are designed for specific age groups. We believe that the shortage of shared spaces for young and old fuels the generation gap.
Intergenerational Projects offer platforms for young and old to develop personal relationships. Without these relationships, it will become very difficult to foster mutual understanding for the needs and for the challenges of the other age groups.
This could further fuel the generation gap, with severely inhuman consequences, including age selfishness, age discrimination, age restricted areas, and age motivated criminal assaults.
The situation calls for urgent action. We invite you to browse through our projects and hope they will inspire you to support this important cause. Thank you.
© United Generations