4 min.
Project "Between Generations" was presented today in Tivoli together with research data from the Ipsos Observatory. In 7 years, access to the Internet by elders has increased by 10%, but only 17% of pensioners use chats, blogs and social networks. Project INTERATE, promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Google in collaboration with the CAN Pensionati, aims to help over-sixties discover new technology and the secrets of the web and help young men and women prepare for the working world. The meeting opened with a message from Linda Lanzilotta, Deputy President of the Italian Senate: “Interage is a project that moves in the right direction to create the conditions that are necessary for new entrepreneurial initiatives and to knock down the wall of apathy.”
Project INTERAGE was presented on October 9, 2013 at the Grand Hotel “Duca D’Este” in Tivoli as part of the general assembly of CNA Pensionati. The project, which will kick off in Piedmont, Lazio and Campania, is based on the exchange of competences between youth and elders. Thanks to the partnership between the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, Google and CNA Pensionati the initiative will allow 300 students from 9 Italian schools to learn about “made in Italy” products and their master craftsmen, while 150 elder members of the CNA Pensionati will become protagonists of the digital revolution from which they are often excluded.
According to Ipsos Observatory research conducted for the CNA, the elders who use chats or other instant messaging technology are an absolute minority, while 21% communicates via blogs and social networks and 17% share content on the web. However, the activity that involves the most elders (28%) is exchanging opinions on poltical and social issues, although even this category amounts to less than a third of the elderly population.
If, on the one hand, it is necessary to extend the use of these technologies to a larger part of the elderly population, on the other, it also is necessary to train a new generation of master craftsmen to continue Italy’s tradition of excellence and allow young individuals to acquire the competences that can help them construct a future. Putting these two generations into contact seems to be the best way!
“We have been working on the intergenerational learning model for over 10 years and we promote it in 19 Italian Regions and 8 European countries. We are proud of this partnership with Google and CNA Pensionati that allows us to implement our model in a socially useful manner. In fact, we hope that this process of mutual enrichment will lead to new job opportunities for the young and new opportunities for the social and digital inclusion of the elderly,” declared Mirta Michilli, Director General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale.
“Internet represents a great opportunity for those individuals stepping onto the job market, but also for all those who have concluded their professional experience, but still want to use it in everyday life. Project Interage is an excellent step in this direction as it promotes growth and cooperation between generations in a context of lifelong learning,” explains Laura Bononcini, Public policy & Government Relations Manager, Google Italy.
“Project Interage is a perfect example of how concepts such as active ageing and intergenerational exchange can be transformed into reality,” explains newly reconfirmed CNA President Giancarlo Pallanti. “For elders, the digital revolution is a real barrier and students can help them overcome it. On the other hand, our master craftsmen possess precious knowledge that is often not rightly appreciated by the young. Our country must be jolted back into action, because on the one hand it is growing older and on the other it does not offer great working opportunities to the young. We must strive to make craftsmanship attractive again and aim to exchange knowledge between those who know about technology and those who know about culture, values, know how and “made in Italy” throughout the world.”
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