Sweden
Lead Contact for Sweden: Generation Marianne
Generation Marianne aims to build bridges between generations by educating companies and organisations in intergenerational practice as well as supporting individuals on how to create relationships across ages.
By being country lead and thus part in the Global Intergenerational Week campaign, they wish to raise awareness of the importance and benefits of intergenerational practice
Key Contact: Suzanne Thorén
Plans for 2024
Day 3 (26/04): Let’s Combat Loneliness and Social Isolation
We will host a seminar together with one of Scandinavia’s leading architectural practices, White Arkitekter, where we, in collaboration with HSB Skåne and HSB Living Lab, present the results from our project. The purpose of the project was to connect neighbours from different generations and build friendships and community within the neighbourhood. How did the project pan out? Do the neighbours feel connected with each other? Can the feeling of connection and community be improved and how do we take it to the next level?
What we got up to in 2023:
25th April - Training for Preschool and Nursing Home Staff
A preschool and nursing home in Upplands Väsby in east central Sweden are planning on having weekly activities together with the hopes of building bridges between generations and forming new relationships.
Step 1 in this intergenerational programme was recently finished where children, residents and staff were interviewed about their interests and wishes with regard to the upcoming intergenerational activities. We also sent out forms for the participants to fill out as part of the initial research in order to create an intergenerational programme based on needs and interests amongst those who will take part in the activities.
Step 2 has now been initiated which includes basic training in intergenerational practice for the staff from the preschool and nursing home. The purpose of the basic training is to include the staff that will be involved in this cooperation between the professions to create an understanding of their important work and how it can be a natural part within their daily tasks, as well as setting common goals and values so they all have the same expectations. During the 25th of April we will share some of the inspirational activities the staff are doing together.
27th April - Housing Coop and Tenant Association Workshop
This workshop will involve the neighbours from a housing cooperative and tenant association in Lund in the southern part of Sweden. They take part in a project called "Goda Grannar", or "Friendly Neighbours", with the purpose of connecting neighbours from different generations and creating friendships and community within the neighbourhood. The neighbours have recently put together smaller activity groups based on interests and the next step is to follow up on the groups to see their doing and how we can engage more people in the activities, as well as setting a plan for the future.
27th April - Introduction to 'Måltidens Gemenskapsvecka' (Social Meals)
The campaign is based on The Big Lunch created by Eden Project Communities with the purpose of bringing neighbours and communities together to share friendship, food and fun, and will take place 22-28th May. During the week we will focus on our two projects in Upplands Väsby and Lund and hopefully bring together generations and neighbours over a shared meal, whether it's a lunch or "fika" (something we love here in Sweden which is basically a cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun (or pastry/cookie of some sort)).