Inter-Active-Generations
Victoria Intergenerational Partners is the go-to hub to connect YOU to folks of other generations in your neighbourhood who share your interests. Be a VIP!
Sobre ti
Sobre ti
Nombre
AJ
Apellido
Carson
URL en Twitter
URL en Facebook
Sobre tu organización
Nombre de la organización
Sitio web de la organización
País de la organización
Canadá, BC
Country where this solution is creating social impact
Canadá, BC
Region in BC where your solution creates social impact
Vancouver Island.
Tu organización es
No registrada
¿Cuánto tiempo ha estado operando la organización?
Menos de un año
Innovación
Selecciona la fase que describa mejor el momento en el que se encuentra tu emprendimiento
Idea (estás listo para lanzarla)
¿Cuánto tiempo se lleva poniendo en práctica tu iniciativa?
Sigue en fase conceptual, pero se espera que se lance pronto.
The Need: Describe the need for your solution and the size and characteristics of the community(ies) your solution is engaging
As the proportion of elders in society increases and fewer youth have contact with elders, it is important to promote intergenerational understanding. Building positive relationships across generations is key to countering divisive economic messages of intergenerational 'inequities' that pit young against old. Many intergenerational programs at present, however, consist of 'one-off' visits or short-term interactions arranged through school visits or community events. "Inter-Active-Generations" will be a central "hub" through which youth and older adults may be meaningfully connected on an ongoing basis around mutual interests and activities. Victoria will be the pilot site for start up, engaging interested businesses, NGO's & community and government agencies as champions and partners.
La solución: ¿Cuál es tu solución? Sé específico.
“Inter-Active Generations” (I-AG) aims to be a magnet where young and old who share an interest in connecting intergenerationally can meet and build community. A pilot program of I-AG in Victoria, "Victoria Intergenerational Partners", will provide resources to facilitate sustainable intergenerational connections. This will include a database to link individuals, agencies, businesses, and government and service groups interested in engaging in intergenerational programs and/or interactions. Workshops will be offered on topics crucial to creating and sustaining successful intergenerational interactions. Individuals and groups with expertise in intergenerational practice and research will be involved as resources to others less experienced but keen to explore intergenerational possibilities. Research and evaluation opportunities will be offered, following strict ethical protocols. Community gatherings will be held to reflect on our practice as a community and celebrate our successes!
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include the primary activities involved in your solution.
Mrs. G. is a widow in her mid-seventies who heard about "Victoria Intergenerational Partners" (VIP) and registered because she wanted more social contact and an opportunity to connect with young people. A VIP volunteer introduced Mrs G. to Sheryl, a 17 year-old high school senior who was seeking opportunities to practise speaking German, one of her school courses, in preparation for a trip to Germany. Sheryl heard about VIP at her high school, and by checking its website learned that there was someone fluent in German interested in conversing. As it turned out, this was Mrs G., whose skills and interests were tapped by VIP as part of her registration, and posted confidentially on the VIP website. For the past several months, Sheryl and Mrs. G have been meeting at Mrs. G's home once a week to speak German. In exchange for her German "tutoring", Sheryl has been happy, as they converse, to help Mrs. G with some 'downsizing' tasks as Mrs. G readies her home for selling, and she prepares to move into a condo. This is a daunting undertaking for Mrs. G., made easier with Sheryl's help. Sheryl even recruited several of her high school buddies to help one Saturday to move boxes and furniture.Mrs. G ordered pizza for all in appreciation! This solution was health-promoting for Mrs G, challenging her cognitively in her work as German tutor, increasing her physical activity as she worked with the students around her house, and enhancing social connections by making new friends. Sheryl also made a new friend, and improved her German skills in an affordable and engaging way.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others working to address the same needs as you and indicate what sets you apart from them.
There are many peers and no competitors. The Victoria Intergenerational Partners (VIP) program addresses a local need. At the national level, the founder of the Meadows School Project is executive director of i2i Intergenerational Society, which is establishing itself as a national resource for intergenerational programs. The I-AG (VIP) aims to provide comprehensive resources and networking opportunities at the local Victoria level (to start) to coalesce the current patchwork of initiatives and expand and promote greater intergenerational connections. One or two other Canadian cities have implemented intergenerational partnership programs (e.g., Toronto Intergenerational Partnerships), but nothing exists in BC to match the specific features and needs of our local West coast communities.
Esta presentación se trata de
Impacto social
Historia de la fundación: Queremos saber acerca del momento en el que hiciste "¡Ajá!". Comparte la historia de dónde y cuándo el/los fundador(es) vio (vieron) el potencial de esta solución para cambiar el mundo.
It was a combination of personal and professional experience that led me to found “I-AG”. In moving to Victoria 5 years ago, I was struck by how age-segregated housing is. Realtors told us the building we were interested in “did not permit children” (this was common misinformation). At the same time, my elderly mother who was living in her own condo across town was interested in more social contact. Why are children and elders so isolated from each other? I thought. What can be done? The next year, through my work as a health promotion researcher, I heard about the successful intergenerational Meadows School Project in the Vernon area and met its founder. With funding from the CIHR, I undertook a case study of this program.The study documented the rich benefits to both youth and elders of quality, ongoing interaction. I began to see how quality intergenerational connections could help enhance social connectedness for young and old in society,in Victoria condos and more widely.
Por favor, describe el objetivo de tu iniciativa: un resumen de lo que están tratando de lograr
The goal is to build healthy neighbourhoods and communities by breaking down barriers between generations, by increasing the level of mutual trust,respect, and understanding across generations, and by enhancing social connections multi-generationally. My research indicates that often it is the 'middle' generation that is most fearful of older and younger citizens engaging with each other. By providing a safe, ethical, and professional service that is a springboard for older adults and youth to meet and interact, hopefully the 'middle' generation will see the benefits that accrue and want to participate to make the program truly multi-generational.
¿Cuál ha sido el impacto de la solución hasta la fecha?
As it is still in the idea stage, no impact can be described. I can, however, envision a strong potential impact based on my research and evaluation of other intergenerational initiatives.
Cuál es tu impacto proyectado para los próximos 5 años?
The main impact of Inter-active Generations in its first five years of operation will be on the Victoria community through Victoria Intergenerational Partners (VIP). VIP will raise awareness of the vast potential that making intergenerational connections offers to individuals, communities and progressive businesses/agencies to meet their goals, solve problems, learn and have fun. As the 'go to' hub for intergenerational action, a major goal of VIP will be to keep abreast of and inform the community of intergenerational initiatives underway across the community, build a database of individuals and groups interested in working intergenerationally, broker connections between these individuals and groups and provide resources to facilitate design, planning and implementation of activities.
Las iniciativas ganadoras presentan un plan fuerte de cómo van a alcanzar y realizar un seguimiento del crecimiento. Identifica tus metas a seis meses para el crecimiento de tu impacto
Identifica tres grandes tareas que tendrás que completar para llegar a las metas de seis meses.
Tarea 1
Complete an environmental scan of all potential organizational partners and groups interested in connecting intergenerationally
Tarea 2
Getting the word out to the Victoria community about Inter-Active Generations and VIP (e.g., setting up website, presentations)
Tarea 3
Holding a celebratory launch and dialogue event to bring interested individuals, agencies, and businesses together face-to-face
¡Ahora piensa en grande! Identifica tu meta de impacto a 12 meses.
Identifica tres grandes tareas que tendrás que completar para llegar a tu meta de impacto a 12 meses
Tarea 1
Secure status as a not-for-profit society
Tarea 2
Carefully recruit a small, well-skilled, committed Board,staff, and establish governance model to match philosophy of program
Tarea 3
Pilot test and evaluate the model with a small number of youth-older adult dyads and other activities (eg workshops)
Sostenibilidad
Cuéntanos sobre tus alianzas.
The major partnership at present is with i2i Intergenerational Society, which is a nation-wide society established specifically to support and promote intergenerational connections. The founder of i2i, Sharon MacKenzie, is a friend and colleague with whom I've worked since undertaking CIHR-funded research on the Meadows School Project, which she founded. Inter-Active Generations and VIP's connections with i2i offers access to networking contacts and resources across Canada, and opportunities for other groups to learn from us. Over time, other partnerships will be pursued in the US and Europe.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your solution? If so, where and why?
At present, no other populations, locations or markets are being targeted.
¿Qué tipo de sistema operativo y factores internos de la organización hacen que tu innovación sea un éxito?
The Victoria environment is highly conducive to promoting intergenerational bridging initiatives. More than most Canadian urban settings, most Victoria neighbourhoods exhibit a healthy demographic balance of young, middle-aged and older residents. A few innovative 'shared-site' initiatives are underway, such as the successful connection between Cordova Bay 55+ members and Cordova Bay Elementary School, and the work of Silver Threads Society. Such connections highlight how useful and timely a central 'hub' provided by VIP will be to sustain and expand intergenerational connections. My own peer-reviewed research and evaluation initiatives in the community (via my affiliate status with UVic's Centre on Aging) provide workshop resources and evidence of the benefits of intergenerational work.
Por favor, pon en claro las necesidades u ofertas que hayas mencionado anteriormente y/o sugiere categorías de apoyo que no están especificadas en la lista
 | 35 weeks ago Arlene Carson updated this Competition Entry. |
| 36 weeks ago Arlene Carson updated this Competition Entry. |
| 36 weeks ago Arlene Carson updated this Competition Entry. |
| 43 weeks ago April Dutheil said: Hi Arlene, Great initiative. Have you explored how community gardens may be able to bring together Elder & youth demographics? We have ... about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 46 weeks ago Sarah Mintz said: This sounds like a great project, thank you for sharing. I look forward to reading/learning more about it as you fill out the entry form. about this Competition Entry. - leer más > |
| 47 weeks ago Arlene Carson updated this Competition Entry. |
| 47 weeks ago Arlene Carson updated this Competition Entry. |
| 48 weeks ago Arlene Carson updated this Competition Entry. |
| 48 weeks ago Arlene Carson updated this Competition Entry. |
| 48 weeks ago Arlene Carson submitted this idea. |