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Description
To combat the social isolation of elderly people, the project “Grandma comes out of the box” aims to break age-related stereotypes, promote active ageing, improve the social and community integration of 75 elderly people and empower and improve the self-image of 300 seniors. The project will conduct plastic arts, sewing and pottery workshops for the elderly and the professionals who work with them and employ elderly people in a sewing atelier.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several issues identified by the Lisbon Social Network''s Social Development Plan (2017-2020). These included social isolation, economic precariousness, inadequate responses to the new profiles of older people, and mental health issues such as depression and Alzheimer''s. The project sought to promote the autonomy and social inclusion of older adults, enhance their longevity with reinforced social skills, encourage active aging and civic participation, and provide responses tailored to their interests and needs. It also aimed to strengthen technical skills for intervention and support the development of local networks and proximity responses for the elderly. Similar challenges and intervention priorities were identified by the Social Networks of Odemira and Ílhavo.
The project utilized design-thinking methodology and the expertise of Fermenta Associação to develop creative KIT concepts through participatory and co-creation processes, involving 18 volunteers from the "A Avó veio trabalhar" (Grandma Came to Work) initiative. The "Bora sair da caixa" (Let''s Think Outside the Box) activity was one of the first to be implemented, providing 20 hours of training to partner organizations'' technical teams, distributed across 10 creative KITS. Over 10 months, 560 KITS were produced monthly with volunteer support, leading to 160 sessions and 480 hours of creative work and social engagement. Of the 40 KIT workshops, 32 were conducted online and 8 in person, with the participation of 4 "madrinhas / Avós" (godmothers/grandmothers) from the partner entities. This resulted in the creation of 840 creative pieces. Between January and March 2023, a pilot space, a self-managed creative atelier, was co-created within the Centro Social e Paroquial São João Evangelista, which 80% of users integrated into their daily lives. Throughout the process, 5 project videos were created and made available online. The final seminar took place in Lisbon at the "A Avó veio trabalhar" (Grandma Came to Work) facilities, attended by 120 participants (beneficiaries, technicians, and the general public). It was a moment of sharing, showcasing results, collecting beneficiary testimonials, and projecting future possibilities.
In terms of Capacity Building, the component for partner organizations was designed based on the informal training of 8 professionals to facilitate distinct and non-infantile creative activities for the 60+ audience. Monthly partnership meetings, 20 hours of training for the application of the KITS, and the sharing of national and international projects and innovative responses in the field of active aging contributed to changing paradigms and breaking some taboos associated with older people. Based on the shared techniques and acquired knowledge, organizations aimed to develop distinct activities tailored to the current profiles of seniors
In terms of results the project integrated 85 seniors into empowering creative processes and provided a pilot creative atelier to 30 seniors, which remains self-managed and utilized by the target group. Eight professionals from partner entities were trained, gaining knowledge and creative techniques that facilitated the planning, creation, and execution of new activities tailored to the new profiles of the senior community. The project contributed to changing paradigms and reducing age-related stereotypes among both partner entity technicians and the target audience. Project videos were disseminated to over 100 institutions working with the same public. Two technicians from Fermenta Associação were trained, improving their organizational process management. The project''s activities were enriching and diverse, achieving all predefined objectives. The co-creation process of the KITS, based on design thinking, involved seniors in their creation, ensuring the product met the real needs of the target audience. Continuous and close work with partner entity technicians generated distinct, productive synergies. The workshops for applying the KITS were crucial for their technical importance and for reinforcing creative, community work and interpersonal relationships.