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Description
Demographic aging is one of the main issues facing all EU countries are facing, due to which the composition of the age pyramid is being transformed and many social and economic sectors are being affected. Greece is the second country with the oldest population in Europe, with a population of 65+ 21.5%, which is expected to increase in the coming years. Old age is associated with the occurrence of physical and psychosocial problems associated with the transition from the labor market to retirement and social isolation, resulting in negative impact on quality of life. According to Eurostat, the quality of life in GR for the elderly is very low compared to the EU-28 average. The aim of the project is to mobilize and strengthen the participation of older people in the public, in Ioannina, for the promotion of volunteering, the feedback of political participation and commitment and the acceleration of the creation of new social capital to strengthen public intervention and action. The project''s activities, concern the creation of an electronic platform and a new volunteer group for older people as a result of a "bottom-up" social process that will support and facilitate socialization, public consultation, action and participation of older citizens in public affairs, plus actions of information, mobilization and awareness of the local population, training of volunteers, information and awareness of executives of local bodies and organizations towards the special needs of the elderly and, finally, development of a pilot action, as a good practice , for the training and consolidation of the volunteer spirit. The proposed project is directly aimed at older people, executives of local agencies and organizations and the local community as a whole. The S.P.R.I. will implement the project in close relationship with the Norwegian organization "The University College for Green Development".
Summary of project results
The project aimed at mobilising elderly citizens, as an important part of local society that can be actively engaged in civic activities and participate in the social and political life. Its main concern was the creation of an electronic platform and the formation of a new volunteer group for older people as a result of a "bottom-up" social process that will support and facilitate socialization, public consultation, action and participation of older citizens in public affairs, plus actions of information, mobilization and awareness of the local population, training of volunteers, information and awareness of executives of local bodies and organizations towards the special needs of the elderly and, finally, development of a pilot action, as a good practice , for the training and consolidation of the volunteer spirit.
During the first main phase of the project, which was implemented in five actions, through Action 1, an online platform called “age-ioannina.gr” was developed, which functioned as an online space for the promotion of volunteering, socialization, open-dialogue and provided access to information on volunteer activities aimed at older people. Through Action 2, the city was made aware of the existence of a project aimed at older people and 100 people were informed about the purpose, actions and philosophy of the project, with the direct effect of reaching the target group and the indirect effect of informing the wider public. Through Action 3, 13 active volunteers were trained on the following topics: New Technologies, Personal Responsibility, Volunteering and Public Consultation and Maintaining a Social Action Network, achieving a more active participation of the members. Action 4 resulted in 22 executives of institutions and local organisations being informed through five thematic workshops on the purpose and actions of the project, in particular on the following themes: Intergenerational Solidarity, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Rights of Older Persons and Volunteering in Old Age, as well as Social Policy Making and Implementation, in which specific members per theme participated. An important outcome of this action was the open discussions on the needs and specificities of the elderly with the ultimate goal of both understanding and inclusion. In the framework of Action 5, a book was created by the project volunteers, in printed and electronic form, entitled "A book full of memories", with topics collected in an experiential way through interviews and categorized under the following themes: Old Professions, Ways of Entertainment, Old Games, Traditional Recipes and Historical Map of the Old Town of Ioannina". The book was distributed to the general public, further disseminating and highlighting the importance of using the life experiences of older people in the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. During the second phase of the project implementation, through Additional Action 1, 65 people of the target group were informed and trained on the operation and use of the online platform and 45 registrations on the platform were made throughout the project. In addition, 25 executives of local institutions and voluntary groups in the city were informed about the objectives and philosophy of the project, aiming at its wider social consolidation. As a result of the additional Action 2, the creation of a new platform for the promotion of the local community and the promotion of the project''s activities was achieved. Finally, through the additional Action 3, targeted voluntary actions were carried out as members of the "Silver Generation of Ioannina" mobilized and initiated a proposal for social intervention and submitted it to the competent Deputy Mayor of Social Policy of the Municipality of Ioannina, highlighting the value of volunteerism and social participation and action of citizens of all age groups in highlighting and addressing local social issues
The said project managed to activate an untapped social capital of the local society of Ioannina and to highlight their active participation and their valuable contribution to the community with a direct outreach of 135 individuals. Through its activities, it managed to mobilise, create synergies and collaboration between older people, executives of local agencies and organizations and the local community as a whole.