Bridges - an inter-generational learning program

Summary

In May of 2018, the City of Waterloo, Ontario was awarded a federal grant to help pursue an inter-generational and intercultural learning program. The program, known as “Bridges” focuses on building cultural connections by inviting residents of Waterloo to experience cultural knowledge and traditions from older people who are affiliated with Waterloo’s many ethnic and immigrant communities. It also aims to empower Waterloo’s older residents as teachers, mentors, and leaders for youth.

In a typical session, an older adult from the Waterloo community is invited to share traditional knowledge (e.g. cooking or crafts) with an audience of about 30 to 40 people that range from youth to older adults. Ahead of the event, the program co-ordinators work with the older adults to identify the session theme and arrange the appropriate facilities, materials, food (if applicable) and promote the event to the community.

The City of Waterloo is among the top five destination cities in Canada for new immigrants. There is growing recognition that increasing cultural diversity lends strength and uniqueness to the fabric of a community. On the other hand, the inter-generational movement has always viewed differences between people as assets rather than as stumbling blocks, and has sought to promote interaction and collaboration between diverse segments of the population. It has grown from a desire to combat ageism and age segregation by creating programs and opportunities for interaction across generations.

Without meaningful contact with older people, children are denied crucial opportunities to learn about the history of their own communities. Similarly, older adults feel disconnected from the mainstream of society and lack opportunities to learn about new developments in cultural life. Bridging divides between generations and ethno-cultural groups opens up new possibilities for intergroup dialogue and exchange. The Bridges project helps tap into the resources of people of all ages, mobilizing the wisdom and experience of seniors and the energy of youth to meet the new challenges of culturally diverse communities.

“Bridges” is run in partnership with faculty from the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning, and community organizations such as the Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership and the Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre. The Bridges project supports the city’s age-friendly Waterloo multi-agency committee’s age-friendly action plan which is a baseline assessment tool of the age-friendliness of the city and a mechanism for inclusion. The committee works to ensure that residents age safely, enjoy good health and participate fully in their community.

Website: https://www.bridgeswaterloo.com/

Key facts

Main target group: Both younger and older people (i.e. intergenerational)

Other target group(s): multi-cultural seniors and youth, older vulnerable adults prone to loneliness and isolation

Sector(s): Social protection

Desired outcome for older people:
Contribute

Other issues the Age-friendly practice aims to address:

Ageism
Intergenerational activities
Inclusion

Contact details

Name: Arlene Groh

Email address: janice.works@gmail.com

Age-friendly practice in detail (click to expand):

Engaging the wider community

Project lead: Research institution

Others involved in the project:

Local authorities
Older People’s Association
Social or health care provider
Volunteers

How collaboration worked: Empowering seniors, encouraging them to share their knowledge, skills and experience with others in the community and enhancing seniors’ social well-being and community vitality are the stated goals of the New Horizons for Seniors Program. This Government of Canada program provides grants and contributions funding for projects led or inspired by older people who want to make a difference in the lives of others in their communities. The City of Waterloo, through the city’s age-friendly Waterloo multi-agency committee, was awarded a New Horizons for Seniors Program grant of $19,740 which was directed toward an inter-generational learning program, The Bridges Project. In partnership with faculty from the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning and community organizations such as the Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership and the Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre, city staff and committee members plan activities that will provide opportunities for senior Waterloo residents of diverse cultural backgrounds to share traditions and customs with members of their own and other communities in a stimulating social setting. The University of Waterloo provides research and program evaluation support and in tandem with the community organizations, all partners provide input on event themes and community connections for the city staff and committee members.

Older people’s involvement: Older people were involved in the age-friendly practice at multiple or all stages

Details on older people’s involvement: In a typical session, an older adult from the community was invited to share traditional knowledge (In this case, African drumming and Indian cuisine). We contacted a number of cultural associations in our community and received positive feedback and a willingness to participate. We picked two cultural groups to work with.

Moving forward

Has the impact of this age-friendly practice been analysed: No

Do you plan to evaluate your age-friendly practice? Yes

Feedback:
Both of the events proved popular. At each event a comment form was collected to obtain feedback after the event. In general, scores indicated a level of satisfaction overall with the events. We did receive some feedback that more time should have been allocated to learn more about cultural aspects of the given program. Some participants felt there was little time to connect with others. After the first event, based on this feedback, a tool was developed (contact cards) which were business size cards that allowed participants to share their contact information with new connections made at the event. The second tool developed was called “Bridges Bingo” – this was an icebreaker activity to facilitate social interaction. The activity instructed participants to find someone in the room who matched the description in a Bingo box. These icebreaker activities, along with sharing of traditional cultural-related snacks, and establishing a safe place for participants to express themselves and were rated high with participants.

Expansion plans:
N/A

Looking back

Reflections:
The majority of attendees were well connected socially and were not therefore prone to social isolation (based on survey feedback they provided). Therefore, there is a possibility that the Bridges events didn’t capture participants who are at risk of social isolation or are socially isolated. For future Bridges events, we would need to consider innovative ways to identify and attract people who are prone to social isolation. Overall, the results of the project demonstrate that community members of all ages responded well to this type of programming. The main challenge associated with the project is finding permanent source of funding and staff support to sustain the program. Bridges has proven quite popular among Waterloo residents and successful in achieving its objectives (i.e., addressing social inclusion among older new Canadians), but long-term sustainability will continue to be the main challenge.

Challenges:
At the city’s annual 2016 age-friendly forum, there was a series of lively discussions and presentations on the theme of diversity and inclusion in an age-friendly community. Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky acknowledged Waterloo’s growing reputation as a destination for new Canadian residents and, in particular, for refugees from Syria seeking a new life and opportunities. One member of the Immigration Partnership of Waterloo Region, provided a keynote address and her words focused the audience’s attention on the challenges of social respect and inclusion for older adults in a community that is undergoing and will increasingly experience, significant ethno-cultural change. Participants at the forum spoke of the need for more inter-generational programming that would bring youth and older adults together in social, non-academic settings to exchange knowledge, stories and life experiences. Through the generosity of the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program grant, the city in partnership with the University of Waterloo and other community organizations were able to develop and launch the Bridges project. No issues were encountered. The main challenge associated with the Bridges project and related age-friendly initiatives is finding a permanent source of funding and staff support to sustain the program. Bridges has proven to be quite popular among Waterloo residents and successful in achieving its objectives (i.e., addressing social inclusion among older new Canadians), but long-term sustainability will continue to be the main challenge.