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Let’s Spread Local Resource Information and Connect!

Let’s Spread Local Resource Information and Connect!

Summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals were largely restricted to staying at home and civic activities stagnated, however, there was also more time to pay attention to our surroundings. Miura City is using this new way of living to revitalize the city by providing resources such as a handbook on how to share favourite community places or memories. The city is providing a platform for older adults to contribute their wisdom and experiences in a way that will benefit the entire community.

Older adults are a source of information on the city and we have held courses to support startups and facilitate community meetings. Older adults spotlight the buried historical heritage of the community by holding walking events, acting as reporters for the community newspaper, and writing blogs. Young community members learn about the history of various culinary practices and have been taught how to protect and nurture rice paddies by older adults. Ensuring that older adults are given the opportunity to be included within our city has benefited the entire community and we look forward to continuing these activities in the future.

Website: https://www.miuracc.org/sasaeai/

Key facts

Main target group: Older people in general

Sector(s): Education, Health, Information and communication

Desired outcome for older people:
Contribute

Other issues the Age-friendly practice aims to address:
  • Ageing in place
  • Disasters and emergencies
  • Healthy behaviours (e.g. physical activity)
  • Participation
  • Technologies

Contact details

Name: Masakazu Nakano

Email address: hoken0201@city.miura.kanagawa.jp

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

Engaging the wider community

Project lead: Civil Society Organisation

Others involved in the project:
  • Local authorities
  • Older People’s Association
  • Social or health care provider
  • Volunteers
  • Private sector
  • Research institution

How collaboration worked: Under the hypothesis of “familiar local information will make an asset,” a partnership of institutions, to which citizens belonging to the participating entities, including local autonomy associations, senior associations, citizen activity groups, has been established. In addition, a forum for universities, distribution, tourism, and transportation businesses to exchange ideas has been created, aiming to establish cycle that will be beneficial for each.

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

Details on older people’s involvement: They formed a group that proactively worked on the initiative. Those who were interested in participating in the skill improvement course started the next stage of activities on their own initiative. In addition, several groups have emerged that aim to become self-supporting and self-established. They are beginning to realize and act on the potential that only the older generation, themselves, possesses time to spare and wealth of experience.

Moving forward

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

Do you plan to evaluate your age-friendly practice? No

Feedback:
We provided follow-up services such as supplementary classes as some of the participants in the skill improvement course applied for independent study to acquire further knowledge.

Expansion plans:
We aim to establish each activity below as a civic activity and to continue: information sessions for those interested in starting an activity, skill improvement course for active groups, organizing matching events between a group and other groups, companies, government, universities, etc., and exchanging opinions with economic, academic, and other fields to utilize the information gathered, etc.

Looking back

Reflections:
It is necessary for activists to feel that they are active. To achieve this, we have learned that it is necessary to understand their activities, prepare information to let others know about them, publicize and stage presentations at the most appropriate occasions, and support cooperation with collaborators and other organizations.

Challenges:
At first, we were in trouble notifying to citizens and so forth since activities did not work. However, we were able to show the way by introducing the activities of existing groups as prior examples, and predecessors of the initiatives.