European Day of Intergenerational Solidarity, celebrated every year on April 29
On the European Day of Intergenerational Solidarity, elderly specialists in various fields are encouraged to join children from after-school social centers through online sessions and workshops, within the national Generations program. The European Day of Intergenerational Solidarity, celebrated on April 29, is an opportunity to recognize the diversity and complementarity of relationships between generations and to raise awareness of the importance of these bonds and the role each generation can take on for a sustainable future for our society.
The accelerated aging of the population and the high rate of school dropout are two of Romania’s major social issues. According to the INSSE report, in January 2021 the elderly population of our country exceeded 3.8 million people, and a national study carried out by The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation found that 47% of elderly people face a profound sense of uselessness caused by the loss of their social role. At the same time, children from disadvantaged families need educational support, and day centers in disadvantaged communities face a shortage of human resources. Close collaboration between generations and the exchange of values and experience between them represent one of the solutions proposed by The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation to address these problems.
To this end, the Foundation has developed an intergenerational methodology to be implemented by after-school centers. This involves engaging elderly people who wish to remain active after retirement in activities with children from disadvantaged backgrounds who need support to stay in school. In the Generations Centers, children receive help with educational activities and personal and vocational development, while elderly people rediscover their sense of usefulness by taking part in various activities or by putting their passions and talents to use by coordinating clubs and workshops. The after-school social centers thus benefit from free human resources and diversify their portfolio of educational, vocational, and recreational activities offered to children in the community.
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, many intergenerational activities were moved online, as elderly volunteers wished to maintain contact with the children, continue supporting their schoolwork, and organize group clubs and workshops. In this way, elderly volunteers remain connected with the children while also benefiting from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
Elderly people who wish to become online mentors must be specialists in a particular field, have a positive attitude and availability to work with children, and possess certain digital skills for organizing online sessions. These can cover a wide range of topics of interest to children: remedial tutoring in various school subjects or exam preparation, educational clubs and workshops, vocational circles, or personal development and counseling sessions. Volunteering in the virtual environment represents the next step in the evolution of intergenerational relationships for educational purposes and allows those involved to meet remotely, with a flexible schedule.
The collaboration between children and elderly volunteers in the Generations Centers leads to visible progress in children’s development, both academically and personally. Through individual tutoring sessions, their school results improve, and their self-esteem grows, helping them become more confident and responsible. By participating in clubs and practical workshops, children acquire and develop practical skills and discover different passions.
Regarding the impact of intergenerational activities on elderly volunteers, based on data collected from 67 elderly volunteers from 8 Generations Centers, it was found that 66% improved their emotional well-being, 66% became more involved in their communities, 55% socialized more than before, while 34% improved their lifestyle.
Mrs. Ani Drăgănescu, 80 years old, an elderly volunteer at the Bucharest Generations Center, states: “For me, volunteering is a useful activity that fills the emptiness around me and brings me great satisfaction. As a volunteer at the Generations Center, I help children with various school subjects, supporting them with homework and preparing them for the national exam. Working online is something new, but also an interesting experience.”
Since 2015, 31 after-school day centers have received the Generations grant and implemented the intergenerational method, and over 650 elderly people have become active again through volunteering for more than 2,000 primary and middle school children from disadvantaged families.
In the 2020–2021 school year, The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation supports 15 social day centers nationwide through the Generations program. Currently, in these centers, 131 elderly volunteers work with 624 children. Those who wish to get involved can find out more by calling 0800-460-001 – Elderly Helpline, the free and confidential helpline for elderly people in Romania, or by registering directly via an online form on the website www.intergenerational.ro.
The Generations program is supported nationwide by Hochland Romania, Raiffeisen Bank, and Metropolitan Life, with the involvement of the Federation of Community Foundations in Romania (FFCR), and is currently implemented in the following social centers:
- Generations Community Center Bucharest, Sector 6 – The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation
- “Growing Together” Day Center, Save the Children Association – Argeș Branch, Pitești, Argeș County
- “Next Generation” Day Center, Samaritans in the Community Association – Mărculești, Ialomița County
- “Always Winners” Day Center, Parents’ Association “Florian Cristescu” – Turnu Măgurele, Teleorman County
- Cenade Children’s Day Center, Caritas Mitropolitan Greek-Catholic Blaj Association – Cenade, Alba County
- “Diaconia” Day Center, Diaconia International Aid Association – Brașov, Brașov County
- “Casa Maria II” Day Center, Orthodox Philanthropy Alba Iulia Association – Reghin, Mureș County
- “St. Seraphim of Sarov” Day Center, Orthodox Philanthropy Războieni-Cetate Branch – Războieni, Alba County
- “Buckner” Day Center, Buckner Foundation – Târnăveni, Mureș County
- “Micii Inocenți” Day Center, Innocents Foundation – Bistrița, Bistrița-Năsăud County
- “Oaza Copiilor” Day Center, Oaza Arad Association – Arad, Arad County
- Stern der Hoffnung Day Center, Stern der Hoffnung Romania Association – Timișoara, Timiș County
- Cernat Day Center for Children, Diakonia Christian Foundation – Cernat, Covasna County
- St. Spiridon Day Center for Children, St. Spiridon Multifunctional Philanthropic Association – Galați
- Casa YANA Center, YANA Foundation – Nicolae Bălcescu, Bacău County
