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TRAMP – Transnational Mobility of Older People in Europe
170 Part II
Method: Cross – Mentoring “the young assist the elderly”
Goals / Options:
A typical preparation task for an exchange involves the creation of profiles of all participants.
This method sets the mood for discussions among guests and hosts. Since one of
the major goals is to interact and communicate intensely and to sustain a lasting contact,
this form of preparation could contribute to this.
It could be a great opportunity for the elderly to learn simple IT skills and reduce fears of
using the Internet as a modern communication medium. By independently establishing
contacts with guests, pupils can increase their communicative skills and be encouraged to
actively use a foreign language.
Brief description:
If this method is applied as an intergenerational method, the organisers could allocate
pupils to the elderly beforehand. Depending on the group size, this can take place in
pairs or groups, taking into account the language skills of the group members. The guest
profiles are written in the according mother tongue of the participants and sent to the
young hosts. The Internet serves as a quick medium. Depending on the time available
and existing language and general skills of the pupils, they could translate the profiles of
the elderly themselves and contact their guests per email prior to the exchange. If guests
are unable to do so, due to lacking Internet access or lack of IT skills, this initial contact,
given enough time, could be established per post.
On the basis of previously gathered information (profile, email, postal contact) the
young hosts introduce the elderly guests in a first contact session upon arrival. In order
to facilitate the process of getting to know each other, name tags should be prepared for
all project participants. The young hosts remain responsible for “their” elderly guests
throughout the time spent together.
Alternative: if this method is not applied as an intergenerational method, the elderly
hosts will act as mentors of the guests.
To be determined beforehand:
• Time capacities for preparational activities, first contact, introduction round
• Internet access of the elderly
• Language skills of pupils
• Adolescents’ ability to work independently
• Adolescents ability to speak in front of larger groups
• Time capacities of participating school teachers
Starting point: Prior to the exchange
Timeframe: 4 hours
Group size: School class / groups of elderly
Group composition: International, intergenerational
Necessary materials: Internet access helpful / email