Closing the Intergenerational Gap: Benefits of Strong Families and intergenerational Programming

Baale Samuel, B.Stat MUK, Cert Research & Reporting CBR, Ageing Fit Uganda SMC LTD

 

Abstract (400 word limit)

 

Statement of the Problem: Traditionally, senior living, care and support was easier, facilitated by a strong family cohesion and social fabric that was. Overtime, this has changed tremendously. The originally supportive extended families are fast shrinking into nuclear ones. New trends in economic shifts and urbanization continue to evolve communities into more and more self-centered ones where people are less concerned about what happens in the next neighborhoods. Today, many older persons who need care, are themselves providers of care. Grandparents give fulltime care to grandchildren in rural areas as well as in urban slums! The fabric of society is often deeply woven with the bonds of family and community, hence, strengthening families and promoting intergenerational programs holds profound significance. The study describes the benefits that strong family ties and intergenerational programming have on older persons’ well-being and community development.

 

Methodology: Employing quantitative and qualitative methods including structured interviews with program participants, we have comparatively analyzed and evaluated two government programs. One program – the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) was exclusively for youth and by youth, and the other – Promotion of Children and Youth (PCY) which involved adults and older adults as guardians and community leaders. We determined whether significant differences exist in terms of program effectiveness, resource efficiency, sustainability, scalability and replicability among others.

 

Findings: The findings suggest that family and intergenerational involvement has a fundamental role in the program success, sustainability and replication. Projects with roots at family level and which bring different generations to work together lead to inclusivity and symbiotic relationships.

 

Conclusion & Significance: Family is valued as a “Social Capital” given the values it channels such as bonding, respect, care and solidarity among members of different generations. Strengthening family ties while encouraging Intergenerational programming is beneficial for communities to grow and develop. This is particularly of benefit to African societies whose population is generally young, but where more and more people are living increasingly longer. They challenge ageism and improve care and support for ageing adults. They breed community ownership which ensures sustainability, scalability and replicability. As a general recommendation, by building partnerships across generations and sectors, stakeholders are turning shared purpose into meaningful action.

Baale Samuel – B.Stat (Hon) MUK, Cert Research & Reporting CBR

P.O Box 14356, Kampala. +256 772 183363, +256 753 194036, baalesamuel2018@gmail.com, ageingfit.ug@gmail.com

 

Baale Samuel, is a specialist in Program Design, Planning and Implementation Management. He is experienced in Population and Development Programs at international level, Philanthropy, Resource Mobilisation, Entrepreneurship, Family Planning, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. Targeting youth and women actors, Baale presents over 20 years of “hands-on” experience in advocacy, knowledge and skills training, as well as mentoring through purpose-based coalitions. Baale has assisted women and girls groups including women parliamentary associations on strategic planning and advocacy for their rights. In partnership with highly successful teams of professionals, he has provided Technical Assistance to over 100 organizations in the East Africa region; Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda and in Ikotosi South Sudan. Baale has also worked with teams on strategic planning and resource mobilization at the European Union in Brussels for multi-country programmes in Africa.

 

Currently, Baale is the founding, and executive director of Ageing Fit Uganda SMC LTD. He is also an active member of the Global Coalition of the Every Woman Treaty advocating for a binding treaty on violence against women and girls worldwide.