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Description
The project RADICES (meaning roots in Latin) is created from the motivations of rehabilitating traditions and fighting ageism. The project is based on two distinct methodologies, both promoting the creation of roots between young and old: the craftwork co-creation workshops and the awareness campaigns against ageism. The project aims to increase the skills and change the behaviours of young people on ageism, reduce the social isolation of older people and increase their physical, psychological, and social well-being.
Summary of project results
Ageism is very present in our society, not only in Portugal, where almost 53 per cent of Portuguese over 65 report having been discriminated against because of their age (in: ‘Como envelhecem os portugueses, Maria João Guardado Moreira, FFMS, p54), but also on a global scale: “of every two people, one is an ageist against older people” (in: World Report on Ageism, PAHO/WHO, 2022). This issue of ageism is all the more pertinent given the scale of global ageing. In fact, the world''s population is ageing, and Portugal is no exception. In Portugal, in 2021, 23.4% of the resident population was over 65, and in the Leiria Region this rate was 25.1% (PORDATA, last updated 26-12-2021), with the ageing index in Portugal standing at 175.8 and in the Leiria Region at 195.2 (PORDATA, last updated 15-07-2022). Portugal is therefore one of the oldest countries in Europe (in:‘Discriminação da Terceira Idade’, Sibila Marques, FFMS, 2011). Ageism, which can manifest itself in the way we think (stereotypes), the way we feel (prejudice) and the way we act (discrimination), has serious consequences for health and well-being, worsening the quality of life of older people and increasing their social isolation and loneliness.
As rates of loneliness and social isolation are high among older people, this has a serious impact on their mortality and on their physical and mental health, according to this WHO report. It should be noted that in Portugal, the ‘Senior Census 2021’ operation carried out by the GNR signalled 44,484 elderly people living alone and/or isolated, or in a vulnerable situation, 1203 of whom were signalled in Leiria in 2021. To combat ageism and its impact on health and well-being, there are effective strategies, according to this WHO report: policy and law, educational activities and intergenerational contact interventions.
RADICES aims to combat ageism through two of these three strategies: 1. Intergenerational contact interventions, with co-creation workshops for handicrafts: With a very proactive role for the elderly and appealing to the forgotten richness of traditions, the knowledge of older people that is neglected and which represents an enormous potential social capital to be explored and developed; 2. Educational activities, with campaigns to raise awareness of ageism (non-formal peer education).
The RADICES project was an intergenerational project to combat ageism, combining the process of co-creating a piece of art with a campaign to raise awareness among young people. The project involved 7 prototyping workshops and 51 production workshops, involving a total of 30 elderly people (10 in Leiria, 10 in Marinha Grande and 10 in Pombal). Due to the success of the workshops, the number of workshops was increased and the frequency changed to weekly. A total of 354 “Peneirentas” (co-constructed art pieces) were produced, generating €2,157 in revenue.
As part of the awareness-raising campaign they held: 1 session with university students (37 people), 11 of whom chose to continue studying the subject and presented the problem of Ageism to secondary school students. As a result, 7 actions were carried out by university students targeting 3 secondary school classes; and 4 awareness-raising actions were carried out by secondary school students targeting 4 classes of 7th and 8th year students from the D. Dinis School Group in Leiria. A total of 142 students were involved.
As part of the capacity building, an Organisational Diagnosis and an Action Plan were developed, 1 volunteer management training course (15 hours) for 10 Atlas professionals, which resulted in the production of a Volunteer Management Procedures Manual.
The Impact Results achieved by the Project relate to the objectives initially defined for the project:
1. Shift in attitudes towards ageism: Young participants developed the ability to identify and challenge ageist behaviors and attitudes in themselves and society. This transformation extended to their social and familial circles, fostering awareness and promoting behavioral change. The creation of youth advocates within schools ensures the sustainability of these efforts against ageism.
2. Reduction in social isolation among older adults: The establishment of routine activities through workshops strengthened social bonds, fostered group identity, and built supportive networks that extend beyond the formal sessions. Many older participants expressed a desire to continue meeting, demonstrating a lasting improvement in their social well-being.
3. Empowerment and enhanced well-being of older adults: By taking on central roles in the creation and sale of handcrafted products, participants experienced increased self-esteem and a renewed sense of purpose. This contributed to notable improvements in their physical, psychological, and social well-being.
4. Community awareness of social inclusion: The project heightened collective awareness of the importance of supporting social inclusion. It emphasized the contributions of older adults within schools and the broader community, establishing a sustainable model for integration.
5. Preservation and promotion of local traditions: The revitalization of artisanal techniques, exemplified by the production of the “Peneirenta,” facilitated intergenerational cultural transmission while affirming the value of the region’s intangible heritage.
6. Project expansion and scalability: Collaborations with new entities and communities ensure the project’s continuity and impact growth, creating opportunities for its replication and adaptation to other contexts.