Download - TRAMP - Arbeit und Leben DGB/VHS

TRAMP – Transnational Mobility of Older People in Europe
2. Manual Work
In addition to the intergenerational dialogue,
manual work was determined as a
central method to encourage communication
between the national subgroups. The
following work tasks were performed during
the exchanges:
The exchange in Hamm
• Construction of swings for the schoolyard.
Preparation of the ground, assembly
of 5 swings and encasing in concrete.
• Restoration of a schoolyard wall. The
wall was cleaned, undercoated and painted
with motifs chosen by the pupils.
• Construction of a wooden puppet stage.
One subgroup performed the wood
and decoration work, while the other
subgroup practised the stage play with
younger children.
• Silk painting. In this group silk painting
techniques were taught and motifs for
scarves and postcards designed.
• International cooking. A fifth group ran
a kiosk for snack and prepared meals in
the school kitchen for all 80 participants
with recipes from participating countries.
The exchange in Oberhausen
Upon request of a participating teacher, a
beach volleyball court was constructed on
the schoolyard lawn of a comprehensive
school in Oberhausen. During the planning
phase the project remained unclear for
a long time. Unclarified issues involved
We from the AGE-group have done quite a lot of projects,
and it is highly interesting for me to work with French
and Czech people together in this project at the Harkortschule.
We do not understand each others’ languages, but
working together runs smoothly nevertheless.
Helmut Beyerlein, Hamm, participant of the exchange
in Hamm
30 Part 1
• The construction (How do you construct
a volleyball court? Which materials
are needed? How much time do the different
work steps take? Is the designated
location suitable? Do we need to organise
an approval by the TÜV? Etc.)
• The financing (What will materials cost?
Which sponsors can we ask?)
• The legal side (Public schoolyard? Access
for non-pupils? What happens when accidents
occur?)
These issues required a lot of information
and many discussions – keeping in mind
that this was all dealt with by lay people.
Finally, a positive decision on behalf of the
school administration enabled the start of
construction (performed by the elderly):
• Construction draft, obtain measurements
and requirements
• Determine work steps and a plan for
necessary materials in appropriate numbers
and necessary tools
• Testing the soil (regarding dangerous
waste accumulated over the years) and
determination of marginal measurements
with appropriate markings
• Excavation works were monitored by
the THW (moving of bushes, excavation
of drain channels and soak away)
• Ordering of materials, organisation of
tool loans
• The project was divided into work
groups, each with 5 seniors of different
nationalities and 5 pupils. The work
groups were assigned with different
tasks in a necessary sequence: 1. placing
the drainage system, 2. setting pillars in
concrete, 3. modelling the margins, 4.
+ 5. filling of gravel, grit and sand. The
work groups worked in parallel and, as
soon as the tasks were completed, joined
the filling groups 4+5. Finally, all participants
had to help with the earthworks
surrounding the beach volleyball court.
On the Friday, everything was prepared
for the grand opening.