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TRAMP – Transnational Mobility of Older People in Europe
118 Part II
onal exchange in Europe. The result comes in form of a booklet “Nobody left
out! A Handbook on European voluntary exchanges”, 2007.
http://www.seven-network.eu/site/?q=de/node/95
Responsibility and Participation
During the TRAMP exchanges, the extent of participants identifying with
the overall project and especially with the manual work-oriented subprojects
was remarkable and impressive. This was particularly noticeable during two
project instances:
The planning rounds prior to the exchanges usually included the groups’
spokespersons, at a later stage the planning rounds were scheduled with all
participants. Everyone attended these meetings and everyone participated intensely
in the planning process. The distribution of tasks was always followed
and the preparation always ran smoothly, whether it was an appointment at
school, the private provision of specific tools or the compilation of lists with
required materials. Already established local groups such as in Hamm, Oberhausen
or Prague might have had an easier job than groups whose members
were part of an organisation, but spread across the entire country as in France.
This means that joint planning meetings can only convene with major personnel
efforts and at a large expense.
Participants organised their craft-oriented subprojects in such a way that
they would be completed in time. On the final day in Prague, people continued
working on the outdoor facilities of the KLAS building despite the
heavy rain. Another group worked literally until the last minute in order to
complete the window renovations, which had been added to the programme.
All subprojects in Vigy were also completed, although heavy discussions arose
regarding a programme change on the last day, because some participants had
planned to rebuild a six-metre long piece of fence in addition to the already
scheduled renovation work. Voluntary elderly were also included in the
afternoon programmes in Vigy. For example, one was responsible for travel
logistics as a bus driver, another was appointed as a guide in the local museum.
During the exchanges in Hamm and Oberhausen the team of cooks had
to solve the problem of serving lunch to a large group of elderly as well as a
group of pupils before school ended – the problem was solved in an excellent
way.
An early participation of the elderly, starting with the first phase of the project
development, makes sure that participants think about the project, that
subprojects run more smoothly, an additional know-how is activated and, in
particular, that everyone can identify with the project and make it their own.
Last but not least, it relieves those responsible for the project, provided that
the subprojects are specifically “invented” for this occasion and not a compulsory
or permanent task of the cooperating organisation.