Project lead: Civil Society Organisation

• Local authorities
• Civil Society Organisation
• Older People’s Association
• Volunteers

How collaboration worked: The success of Kochi Spotlight as an age-friendly practice lies in its deep-rooted collaborative framework, driven largely by volunteerism and community ownership. The program operates with minimal funding, requiring only a basic portable speaker-microphone setup and a few battery-powered lights to create a welcoming and inclusive performance space. Despite the modest infrastructure, it thrives on the enthusiasm and active participation of people across generations. CEDAC, the lead coordinating agency, worked closely with student interns from social work and humanities colleges, youth clubs, local artists, and Older Adult associations, forming a vibrant civil society coalition. These collaborators handled event logistics, participant mobilisation, stage setup, and post-event documentation. Local organisations and community groups often offer space and local support, which greatly reduces operational costs and enhances local engagement. This model of community-led implementation has not only ensured the program’s sustainability but also fostered a sense of collective responsibility toward building an age-friendly cultural environment. The intergenerational collaboration has become a template for civic participation, encouraging communities to take pride in supporting active and healthy ageing through creativity and connection.

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

Details on older people’s involvement: Older persons are at the heart of the Kochi Spotlight initiative—not just as participants, but as storytellers, performers, mentors, and audience members. They take the stage to share songs, poetry, memories, and talents, offering inspiration and wisdom while actively engaging with younger generations, thereby fostering mutual respect, emotional connection, and breaking stereotypes associated with ageing.

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

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

Feedback:
We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both older persons and younger participants in the Kochi Spotlight program. Older adults often express deep gratitude for the opportunity to share their talents and life experiences in a respectful, appreciative environment. Many have said it rekindled their confidence, reduced feelings of isolation, and gave them a sense of purpose. Young people have shared that interacting with older adults outside of formal settings helped break generational barriers and reshaped their perspectives on ageing. However, a few participants pointed out the need for better seating and lighting in outdoor locations, especially for night events, and recommended additional shaded or indoor venues during the rainy season. Some suggested more structured registration to ensure time slots for all interested performers. These insights have helped us improve the logistics and make the event more inclusive and efficient in future editions.

Expansion plans:
Yes, we plan to expand the Kochi Spotlight intergenerational open mic program to multiple locations across Kochi and later to other municipalities and panchayats in Kerala. The goal is to reach a wider audience, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, where opportunities for older adults to engage in community events are limited. By collaborating with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), senior citizen forums, schools, and local bodies, we aim to create satellite editions of the open mic. Each edition will be supported by local volunteers, student interns, and cultural groups, ensuring sustainability and community ownership. We also plan to integrate themed sessions (e.g., health, environment, storytelling) to enhance social impact and relevance.

Reflections:
One key reflection from our experience with the Kochi Spotlight intergenerational open mic program is the realization of how deeply the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns have impacted the mobility and social participation of older persons. The practice of reverse quarantine during the pandemic has resulted in many seniors becoming more socially withdrawn, and it now takes considerable effort to bring them back into public, community-driven spaces. We have also observed that while many older adults possess remarkable talents and stories, they hesitate to come forward without encouragement from family members. If we were to implement the practice again, we would place stronger emphasis on intergenerational outreach—engaging youth not only as volunteers but as motivators to accompany and support their grandparents or older neighbors to attend and participate. Creating more accessible, emotionally safe, and familiar environments at these events—possibly through smaller neighborhood editions and home-based pre-screenings—could also make a significant difference in participation.

Challenges:
One of the main challenges faced in the Kochi Spotlight open mic program was encouraging the participation of older persons, especially in the post-pandemic context where many had become hesitant to engage in public events due to prolonged isolation and health concerns. The psychological and physical effects of the lockdown period, especially the practice of reverse quarantine, led to reduced confidence among older adults to perform or even attend public gatherings. To address this, we actively involved family members, student volunteers, and resident associations to personally motivate and accompany older persons to the events. We also ensured that the atmosphere was friendly, non-competitive, and inclusive—emphasizing appreciation over performance quality. Providing opportunities for small informal performances and appreciation tokens helped build confidence over time. Additionally, having events in accessible, open public parks created a more relaxed and welcoming environment for older adults, encouraging greater participation and visibility.