/p>v class=”main-content single-post-content”>an article of Jose Manuel Diaz
SIAPSH General Coordinator –
The natural coexistence that occurs in society between the different generations constitutes a fundamental value for its development, each person contributing to it, regardless of age or other sociodemographic issues. The intergenerational perspective allows us to discover how to improve and promote relationships between people of different generations, as well as benefit the entire community with your practice.
In current times, society must face increasingly complex challenges and places us in the position of developing mechanisms and strategies that allow us to respond to the needs of the moment in a more enriching way. The assumption of this challenge provides special prominence to the role of citizenscontemplating all sectors of society.
For this reason, it is essential to have the participation of everyone in the social transformation that requires the construction of more consistent and healthy societies and, in this sense, attend to the intergenerational factor it may be essential to implement real change.
Coexistence spaces in which people of different generations interact contribute to the diversity and integration from this perspective and to the capacity of all people, enhancing the dialogue and cooperation between the different age groups, as well as the group cohesion. We must be aware that all citizens participate in society with the same rights and dutiesregardless of differences in age, generation, or ability.
This involves the development of societies that integrate all ages, promoting spaces where intergenerational encounters and interaction take place, and thus complement and enhance each other to promote a more inclusive society in terms of equity and justice, and more progressive. Therefore, the intergenerationality can function as a means for development and use of the potential of all people and an opportunity for them to learn from each other, while promoting values such as participation and solidarity.
Therefore, it is of great importance promote meeting spaces between the elderly and young people In order for them to develop joint projects, as well as social policies, they must contemplate elements aimed at supporting initiatives to strengthen intergenerational relations.
He active aging It is based, among other elements, on intergenerationality, because it is often forgotten that celebrating years with good health conditions also implies accumulating knowledge, experiences and values that the new generations can take advantage of. The traditional relationships established between different generations are those between grandchildren and grandparents, although this type of reality is unusual outside of these spaces because perceptions and actions tend to be different in both age groups and Society’s appreciations also change in relation to young and old people.
This reflects the existence of many stereotypes about old age that do not correspond to reality since both groups of the population are not homogeneous. He intergenerational knowledge sharing would constitute the way in which people of different ages can learn each other, establishing itself as a process of enrichment and joint growth, and would allow overcoming these stereotypes. Likewise, mutual recognition and solidarity between generations act against inequalities and discrimination based on age.
In the educational policies one of the fundamental pillars is to create value based on the growth of knowledge, enhance the role of citizens in inclusive societies, guarantee that all people have access to lifelong learning and can update their skills throughout their lives, putting themselves the focus on the knowledge transfer through intergenerational approaches. In the same way, it is highlighted that learning policies are embedded in a social and economic policy broader and influences them, highlighting that the transmission of intergenerational knowledge has a key role in overcoming the main challenges of growth and development that today’s society has to face.
The transformation that our society has been undergoing in recent years, increasing the number of older people implies the preservation and activation of the participation of this sector of the population. The greater life expectancy and the possibility of exercising active citizenship by the elderly, where more and more years are lived and in better conditions, requires efforts aimed at achieving a society where older people and their contributions are more appreciated and integrated for the benefit of the whole society.
The programs and actions aimed at promoting intergenerationality must have as a fundamental element the solidarity exchange, framed in the values that occur naturally between the generations that live in a family. This experiential reality also contributes to promote awareness in relation to the civic responsibility and civic spirit, which helps to involve more people in community action and to create more participatory and responsible societies. For intergenerationality to take place, it is not only required that the groups of society be together, but it is also important do and be done togetherand that this action goes beyond mere interaction and passes into a relationship.