Two of the social problems that Romania faces today are early school dropout generated by poverty and accelerated demographic ageing. The day-care centres in the country, which provide social assistance and educational support to children from families in need, often face insufficient resources. On the other hand, many of the elderly have a sense of uselessness and suffer from the loss of their social role. Children from modest families and seniors who want to be active meet within the intergenerational centres created by the Generations Programme.
Using the elderly as a resource for the community is an important paradigm shift, but an absolutely necessary one for encouraging active ageing and adapting to the existing demographic situation.
How we support children, seniors and social centres in communities
Building on the experience of working with senior volunteers to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds, the Foundation has created an intergenerational methodology in order to implement this approach in as many communities across the country as possible. Seniors wishing to have an active life get involved as volunteers, in the day-to-day activities of day-care centres.
In 2017, we succeeded in extending the Generations Method to 4 new centres in Bucharest, Bacău and Brașov, and we funded 11 intergenerational centres in total. The Generations method is currently implemented in 15 centres across the country.
The Generations Community Centre programme means:
- Activating elderly from the community, as volunteers for children attending day-care centres, with the role of mentors, teachers, craftsmen for creative workshops or friends.
- Using intergenerational working methods in the various activities of day-care centres for children.
- High quality social assistance and school guidance provided to all their beneficiaries.
- Mobilising the community for fundraising campaigns or events and involving the Community Foundations as a local partner.
- Awarding a grant up to 8.000 Euro to after-school social centres to support intergenerational activities.
Intergenerational centres in 2017
- The Generations Center in Bucharest
- Diakonia Christian Foundation – Day care centre for children from disadvantaged families;
- Buckner Foundation;
- Multifunctional Philanthropy Association – St. Spiridon Day Care Centre;
- Good Samaritan Association;
- St. Vasile the Great orthodox association – Speranța Day Care Centre;
- Cuvântul Întrupat Foundation – “La vale” Community Centre of Galați;
- Chance for Life Association;
- St. Archdeacon Ștefan Association;
- Community Support Foundation – Mozaic Day Care Centre;
- Diaconia Foundation of Brașov.
- Activities of senior volunteers
- Guiding children in doing their homework and individual schooling
- Educational courses: foreign languages, reading club, painting
- Vocational clubs: dance, choir, chess, guitar, photography, handmade items
- Creative workshops and traditional crafts, such as sewing or knitting
- Games and socialisation, birthday anniversary, sports activities
- Personal development: educational traveling, practical course of good manners
- 4 new intergenerational centres
- 589 children attend the 15 intergenerational centres in the country
- 2160 indirect beneficiaries (parents, grandparents, brothers/sisters)
- 125 elderly volunteers work daily with children
- 99.8% of the beneficiaries completed the school year
- 63% improved their school performance
- 18000 hours of social assistance, socialisation and schooling
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