This document proposes several ideas for facilitating intergenerational connections. It suggests creating an activity center where older and younger people can teach classes to each other in skills like carpentry, textiles, or computers. Another idea is an annual "barn raising" event where neighbors of all ages work together on neighborhood improvement projects and then share a meal. A "patronage collective" would match childless seniors with extra money to young people seeking funding for projects in areas like art, science or technology. Other brief ideas include an intergenerational soup kitchen, an internet forum where youth can ask questions and elders can answer, and a senior helpline where older adults can offer advice or companionship to callers. The overall goal is to help

1. CONNECTING
GENERATIONS
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2. Exchange of experience
Young people don’t know how to do a
lot of things that older people take for
granted, and old people have
problems keeping up with the
development of technology and
emerging trends.
A lack of mentors. Why don’t we take
advantage of older people’s life-
experience? To learn from other
people’s mistakes is valuable.
Younger people would greatly benefit
from contact with older individuals
that have been where they want to go.
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3. How can we facilitate
the exchange
of experience, skills
and thoughts across
generations?
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4. KEY INSIGHTS
‣ Gathering
It’s often nice to have a place to go and hang
out and meet new people. This could be a bar,
a coffee shop, a club or what not.
‣ Sharing
People like to share. Share their stories,
knowledge and experience. Sharing also ties
people together and makes stronger human
connections.
‣ Context
It’s easier to form connections when there’s a
specific circumstance that forms the setting
for an event or gathering.
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5. SKILLS AROUND
Connecting knowledge
When you’re retired you’re
probably one of the most
knowledgeable people within your
field. This knowledge could be
useful for a lot of people lacking
the experience and wisdom
obtained by you. Why not make a
system that facilitates knowledge
sharing and makes it easy for
youngsters to drink from the
wisdom of the retired population?
This could work in many different
ways and the next slide
elaborates one possible solution.
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6. ACTIVITY CENTER
Making room for people to meet across generations
through activities, learning and food.
Come eat and hang out, or participate in courses/ classes arranged
either by seniors or juniors in different activities.
The center will provide space and equipment where old and young can
both be "teacher" and "students" in practical skills. Like within
carpenting, textile crafts or computers. This can be organized through
the day centers connected to retirement homes, but also as an
elective at high schools, giving the program a trustworthy validation.
Over time it would be great if relationships could form, and activities
be organized outside of the center. E.g a retired carpenter could guide
a young person who is renovating an apartment for the first time etc.
Traditional activity centers are organized on the
basis of age, but now we organize based on interests.
It's not a place to kill time, but to live.
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7. THE BARN RAISING
Fix up your neighborhood with a good old-fashioned
collaborative spirit.
An annual fund is awarded to those who are interested in doing
something positive for their neighborhood. You have to jointly work
out what to do and how to do it. Let the young and old solve
challenges together. After the work is finished there’s food and drinks
in a casual setting. This can hopefully be a venue where one can learn
from each other and create new relationships.
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8. THE PATRONAGE COLLECTIVE
Get your projects going with some help from
someone with more money than time.
Let childless seniors, who have more money than time left to spend it,
meet young people who need capital to execute their projects. Eg.
within art, science, technology, etc.
Website
The young pitch their ideas to the old through video, drawings, etc.
The potential patrons can choose what kind of projects they are
interested in and who they will support.
Purpose
A lot of seniors without family testament their money to organizations.
By joining the Patronage Collective they can see their money be put to
good use and enjoy the results. They can give young people
opportunities they never got themselves when they were young.
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9. RANDOM IDEAS
‣ Soup kitchen avec
Imagine walking home hungry, stop by for dinner and just meet folks
all ages ready to talk to you. Share a meal! Food for thought.
‣ The internet paper
Print monthly questions from a forum where young people can
wonder and old people can answer the way they’re used to.
‣ Flat sharing
Elders and youngsters living as flatmates.
‣ Senior Hotline
Old people like to talk on the phone, young people need someone
who can listen and advice them. Phone service as a means to activate
lonely people. Call to ask for help with e.g. crafts and cooking, or just
to chat.
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10. IDEAS CONCEIVED AT THE
REFINEMENT CLUB’S
MASS-REFINEMENT v.03
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11. FACILITATED BY:
‣ Benedikte Kluge
‣ Gro Larsson
‣ Johannes Rummelhoff
‣ Cyan :studio
Thanks to all the participants!
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12. GET IN TOUCH ON:
facebook.com/TheRefinementClub
twitter.com/RefinementClub
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