Information Document
For
UNESCO/UIE WORKSHOP: INTERGENERATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, 09-11 a.m. 4^th April 2002

1. Background: 
The Fifth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA, Hamburg, July, 1997) proclaimed the importance of the contributions of older people to society.
As a UN specialized agency, UNESCO/UIE stepped up its involvement in intergenerational issues in the International Year of Older Persons (UN, 1999), which proclaimed "Towards Society for All Ages".
The World Education Forum for Education for All (WEF, Dakar, April 2000) underlined the importance of "more creative and sustained mobilisation of resources" (para 46 EFA Dakar Framework of Action), "participation of civil society (e.g. communities) (para 53) as well as respect and engagement with "local communities and cultures"(para 44).
UNESCO/UIE considers the intergenerational approach as an effective and inclusive instrument to achieve its lifelong learning programmes: "Learning throughout life for all". The idea of creating sustainable learning abilities and learning environments is a main thrust of this Institute’s lifelong learning programmes. Consequently, the UIE’s proposed that it will"actively promote intergenerational strategies for adult basic education and literacy" (para 01332, UNESCO’s Programme and Budget for 2002-2003).
Earlier in 1999, the Institute, in consultation with the University of Dortmund, University of Pittsburgh and the Beth Johnson Foundation, held a meeting of international experts in order to discuss the preparation of an international comparative study on intergenerational programmes. The study resulted in a publication of a monograph "Intergenerational Programmes: Public Policy and Research Agenda: An International Perspective" (2000). The recommendations in the monograph emphasized ""using IP as a model for community action and development "(para 7, p.7), "critical assessment of foreign models in case of their adoption in another country" (same para) and the need to "increase our understanding of IP both from an historical and cultural perspective" (para 7, p.8).

In the same year, a workshop was held in October in Maastricht, on community development during the International conference "Intergenerational Programmes To Promote Social Change", held (1999, Maastricht) jointly by Odyssee (Institute for training, Education, Coaching and Consultancy) UNESCO Institute for Education, Generations Together, University of Pittsburgh, the Beth Johnson Foundation, University of Dortmund and NIZW (Dutch Institute for Care and Welfare). Among other things, the workshop underlined, in recommending an intergenerational approach to community development, "the primacy of local definition, investment, creativity, hope and control" (Kuehne, 1999, p.24 of the Conference report), and also the need for the implementation of intergenerational programmes to be linked to already existing community development structures (Penninx, p.28 of the Report of the Conference).

2. Definition of intergenerational programmes:
The specialists who participated in the above-mentioned expert meeting defined "Intergenerational programmes are vehicles for the purposeful and ongoing exchange of resources and learning among older and younger generations for individual and social benefits".

3. General classification/types of intergenerational programmes:
There are four types of IP generally agreed:
-older serving children and youth (as tutors, mentors, resource persons, coaches, friends, a grandparent raising a grand child, etc)
-children and youth serving older people (as friendly visitors, companions and tutors, etc)
-older adults and youth collaborating in service to community (e.g. environmental and community development projects)
-older adults and youth together engage themselves in informal learning activities, (recreation, leisure, sports, art festivals, exhibitions, etc.)

4. Objectives of workshop:

The objective of the workshop are: 

1. To exchange country experiences, the status of intergenerational programmes, ways to which IP strategies are being applied as an instrument to cope with priority community development issues in developing countries; 
2. To propose recommendations to public policy makers and practioners on ways to improve the application of IP strategies to enhance sustainable community development programmes and projects in these countries. 

5. Suggested discussion themes:
A. Short country profile
B. What is the present status of intergenerational programmes/initiatives in your country? What are the current developments and practices in the area? The UIE is particularly interested in exploring how community-based intergenerational interventions are being applied to adult basic education and literacy. Can you describe what is happening in this field (initiatives, programmes, projects, activities, etc)? 
C. What are the priority community development issues in your country to which IPs are addressing or being applied to presently? What are the future issues and needs that should be addressed?
D. Who are the actual/potential actors of IP in different programmes and activities? What are their actual roles in this respect?
E. What recommendations would you like to propose in order to maximize intergenerational contributions to sustainable community development priority areas?

More specifically, recommendations on themes such as:

-public policy orientation for intergenerational approach to sustainable community development
-who (both existing & new) should participate in IP (partnership issues)
-how to mobilise financial resources for IP 
-new approaches/innovations needed in IP
-the role of UNESCO/UIE

6. Presenters & discussants:

Dr Narender Kumar Chadha (Delhi University): "Intergenerational Solidarity: Implication for Community Development"
(Discussant: Dr Nancy Henkin, Temple University)

Dr Nina Kort (Palestinian Community Development Consultant, President of Aid to the Aged): "Intergenerational Development/Palestinian Roots" (Discussant: Dr Ludger Veelken, Dortmund University)

Dr Akpoivire Oduaran (University of Botswana): "Intergenerational Approaches to Sustainable Community Development in Botswana and Nigeria; (Discussant: Dr Matt Kaplan, Pennsylvania University)

Dr Rosa Maria Torres (Instituto Fronesis, Argentina): "Intergenerational Learning Experiences in Latin America"
(Discussant: Dr Kees Penninx, Dutch Institute for Care and Welfare, NIZW)

7. Methods of workshop organization: