In this project we digitally stored their fairy tales, songs that means a lot to the participants, (cultural) live events and images. Because the live sessions were stored in a digital way and placed in the database of Online Encounters. In this way these stories, films were immortalized. Each elderly was accompanied in these sessions by a youngster who helped to select the stories and translated the communication during the sessions to English. Amongst elderly and youngsters an intergenerational sharing took place. Further objectives in this project were: - Elderly told their stories, fairy tales and socks in an artistic, cultural and digital way to others, coming from different cultural backgrounds. - Learned the stories from each other, and became active in sharing their own beloved stories, images and events. This active ageing broke their isolation. - Intergenerational exchange; the younger ones learned from elderly, hearing their stories in time- and cultural related context - Crossed borders in using very updated techniques. Digitising developments of seniors. - Up-skilled digital competences of all parties. - Increased self-confidence and desire to collaborate. -Promoted Erasmus+ programme especially among elderly.
This project was about connecting vulnerable same- age elderly to the 3 other European countries. In a digital way, by meeting each other in the sessions of the system of Online Encounters (www.ontmoetingen-online.nl). In addition it was about connecting young adults (19-29 years old) to these elderly. They helped each other by being present in the online sessions, and breaking possible down barriers in the use of the digital system which motivated, and created intergenerational dialogue among them. In the past Covid- 19 times we discovered social isolation of elderly and youngsters. With depression and social isolation as a result. They were often cut off from the usual ways in which they could have previously participated in an inclusive society. For many vulnerable elderly people, it was nice to reminisce. Old stories or fairy tales. Stories from personal diaries. Photos or videos with history. Impressive small or big live- events. These stories gave a typical picture of the time, were interesting for younger generations to hear, read or watch. Often these stories were lost as the people of the older generation fade away. Erasmus+ programme was not well known among elderly, so this project was a great opportunity.