Five Organizations from Alba, Cluj, Timiș, and Bucharest Develop Community Through Intergenerational Education Projects for Children and Elderly People
- Five after-school social centers continue intergenerational education projects.
- 150 children will benefit from academic support and activities for personal and vocational development.
- 40 elderly people have the opportunity to register as volunteers in community centers.
The national GenerationsThe national Generations program, supported by The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation, continues in 2024 across five social centers in the towns of Bonțida, Blaj, Buziaș, Dezmir, and Bucharest, with support from Bosch Romania Foundation. The Generations centers will receive grants to expand their educational activity portfolios and benefit from training and mentoring to begin mobilizing local resources. For the third consecutive year, elderly people are invited to join the after-school social centers, providing homework help or participating in educational activities organized for children in the community. The Generations Centres, vor primi granturi pentru a-și dezvolta portofoliul de activități educaționale și vor beneficia de training și mentorat pentru a începe atragerea de resurse locale. Pentru al treilea an consecutiv, seniorii sunt invitați să se alăture centrelor sociale de tip școală după școală, pentru a oferi sprijin la teme sau a se implica în activități educaționale organizate pentru copiii din comunitate.
Generations Projects in Social Centers in Bonțida, Blaj, Buziaș, Dezmir, and Bucharest
Five organizations supporting children from disadvantaged backgrounds in five different communities will receive resources and expertise to implement intergenerational education in social centers. The Generations centers create a space where children and elderly people can collaborate and become resources for each other, improving their quality of life and relationships. Leveraging experience, professional skills, talent, and personal time, 40 elderly people will be engaged as volunteers to participate in educational, vocational, and social activities, supporting 150 children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Generations Centres, The Generations Centers introduce a new category of staff into social centers to support non-formal education; through elderly volunteers, they create a rich portfolio of activities for children’s personal and vocational development, triggering a shift in community thinking regarding the potential of elderly people and the role of social centers as valuable community actors.
To make the services of these centers more accessible and visible to the target groups and better supported by the community, center staff will participate in a training and mentoring process to build skills for mobilizing local people and resources.
The Five Organizations in the Generations Project Supported by Bosch Romania Foundation
- Bonțida, Cluj County – Christian Diakonia Foundation, Day Center for Children from Disadvantaged Families
- Blaj, Alba County – Caritas Metropolitan Greek-Catholic Blaj Association, Day Center for Children
- Buziaș, Timiș County – Stern der Hoffnung Rumanien Association, Stern der Hoffnung Day Center
- Dezmir, Cluj County – Something New Association, Something New Day Center
- Bucharest, Sector 2 – Saint Dimitrie Foundation, Center for Education and Community Support
At the Generations centers, children from disadvantaged families receive school support, a warm meal, social and psychological counseling, and opportunities to discover their talents and develop skills, supported by mentors and even loving grandparents or wise friends. Meanwhile, elderly people have the opportunity to take on a new role after retirement, make an impact, bring value to the community, avoid loneliness, socialize with younger generations, and rediscover themselves in a new stage of life.
Volunteer Opportunities for Elderly People
Elderly people interested in volunteering to help with homework or vocational workshops at Generations Centers in Bonțida, Blaj, Buziaș, Dezmir, and Bucharest can apply directly via the website or obtain more information by calling the toll-free number 0800.460.001 – The Elderly Helpline. Volunteers should have a positive attitude, willingness to work with children, and the ability to share their experience or skills, either helping with school subjects or organizing clubs and educational or vocational workshops within the centers.
The national Generations program was awarded in the Community and Social Engagement category at the 2024 National Gala of Goodness, organized by the Ministry of Family, Youth, and Equal Opportunities.
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About The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation
The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation is one of Romania’s leading NGOs, contributing to civil society development through social and educational programs. With 34 years of activity, the Foundation supports children, young people, and elderly people through sustainable interventions based on intergenerational experience and values. More information about the Foundation’s programs and intergenerational stories is available at fundatiaregala.ro/ and www.intergenerational.ro.
About Bosch Romania Foundation
Founded in 2020, Bosch Romania Foundation is an NGO created at the initiative of Bosch Group in Romania, aiming to provide a framework for expanding its corporate social responsibility actions. The Foundation seeks to create positive change for disadvantaged individuals and society as a whole. Its main areas of involvement are education, environment, housing, health, and social development. Through its umbrella program EduCare, Bosch Romania Foundation supports sustainable initiatives in education.
