The Global Intergenerational Week 2022 campaign was officially launched online on Wednesday 2 February. This was previously a UK campaign, but now in its third year this event is going global.
The goal is to inspire individuals, groups, organisations, local/national government and NGO’s to fully embrace intergenerational practice, connecting people of all ages especially the younger and older generations. As such, this is the first year Australia has been part of Global Intergenerational Week and the Australian lead is the Australian Institute of Intergenerational Practice (AIIP), along with Intergeneration Australia (IA), and Intergenerational Learning Australia (ILA).
Hosted by Generations Working Together, the launch brought together over 100 people from around the globe to celebrate intergenerational activities. Heléna Herklots, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, delivered the keynote speech and congratulated all involved in intergenerational practice as champions of a very important role in challenging ageism and stereotyping, both of which are extremely damaging to our society.
Heléna Herklots is the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales and delivered the keynote speech. Ms Herklots congratulated all involved in intergenerational practice as champions of a very important role that challenges ageism and stereotyping, both of which are extremely damaging to our society.
Ms Herklots has led and contributed to a number of UK Government advisory groups covering topics including care and support, housing, dementia and carers. Ms Herklots also noted that the richness of relationships helped sustain us through the pandemic and highlighted several examples of ‘beacons’ in the intergerenational arena.
“As we emerge from the pandemic it is vital that we create opportunities to build, strengthen and celebrate relationships between different age groups. These relationships will help rebuild our communities, reduce isolation and loneliness, improve health and mental wellbeing and reduce ageism.”
If you would like to take part in Global Intergenerational Week, you can register your organisation as a supporter and have your logo added to the GWT website as well as on the Global Intergenerational Week ‘Wall of Fame’ on the AIIP website.
Taking part can be anything from holding a local event, getting discussion going and raising grassroots awareness. A supporters’ pack with social media resources and template posters is available on the GWT website for you to download and use in your promotions.
Themes for the week include:
- Let’s reconnect (showcasing community connecting, post-COVID rebuilding)
- Let’s fight loneliness and isolation (showcasing health benefits)
- Let’s celebrate intergenerational spaces (showcasing housing, co-located space and places)
- Let’s inform our future (showcasing climate and the connection)
- Let’s celebrate intergenerational solidarity (showcasing international IG work)
- Let’s break down age barriers (showcasing work to reduce ageism)
We are keen to feature Australian stories and would love to hear yours! Email us at admin@aiip.net.au.
In the meantime, the recording of the launch is available here.
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