Educational pathways between intergenerational dialogue and active citizenship

Abstract

Dialogue and solidarity between generations can become levers of local development: share common objectives supports the motiva-tion to lifelong learning, creating opportunities for mutual exchange. In this regard, the social animation encourages interaction and pro-motes places of trust and participation. Pro-mote experiences of active and intergenera-tional citizenship means focusing in the devel-opment of competent communities, who know how to deal with the challenges and opportuni-ties for active ageing and democratic participa-tion. The project implemented at the national level “Young vs elderly: new relationships be-tween generations and cultures. Experimenta-tions of territorial actions in favor of intergener-ational solidarity” gave feedback about pro-spects of reflection and intervention on cooper-ative environments. We can build intergenera-tional time and space in which to consolidate a community where everyone takes care of each other and lay the foundations for inclusive terri-tories. The project revealed that, through inter-personal ties, the life stories intertwine and take on new meaning for the individual and for the group, increasing the desire to re-design together and strengthen the social structure, as a plot of reciprocity and plural identities. Re-trace the project, from planning to its realiza-tion, allows us to focus on the processes im-plemented, to rediscover the meaning of the educational experience and to deepen the pedagogical guidelines co-developed.