Context
Soon, the number of older people will grow in Europe and this will be the cause of many economic problems because the percentage of the inactive population will increase compared to the active population. Less and less children are born in Europe because fewer couples can afford to have children.
At the same time, data and statistics show that couples who have children today are those who have parents willing to give financial support to young families, therefore to be grandparents.
If on the one hand the elderly will be a problem for the European economy, they are also the solution for families and for the demographic problem that grips our continent.
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What we need to establish in Europe is a healthy approach to old age: life expectancy is constantly rising, this means that today we are old for a long time. The elders of the future must be healthy and strong. They will need to be able to continue living an active and experiential life. it is therefore important to promote the importance of sport in older people.
Besides, grandparents are essential in supporting the organization of European families: grandparents spend a lot of time with their grandchildren accompanying them to their extra-curricular sports activities. This means that sports clubs are places where the promotion of physical activity for the elderly can be effective. It can also be a way to propose new activities and create new opportunities for the associations and communities they serve.
Europe & Older Generation topic
The European institutions understood the importance of promoting physical activity to the older generations. In fact, they have shown particular attention to this important demographic change who is affecting our continent, proclaiming in 2012 the European Year of Active Aging and Solidarity between Generations (AE2012) with Decision No. 940/2011/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2011.
In the framework of the 2012 European Year of Active Aging and Solidarity between Generations, the issue of aging is addressed under various aspects related to demographic challenges, the labor market, the development of social services for the elderly and to support the so-called "silver economy".
In particular, the Commission asked to adopt, by 2012, common principles on the subject of active aging, about employment, participation in social life, and the development of a healthy, independent, and dignified life.
EGD project Objectives
Main Goal
To promote the education of the benefits of sport for the elderly, thanks to the dissemination of a new sport activity which involves grandparents and grandchildren and through the development of new skills for youth workers.
Specific Objectives
1- To educate about the benefits that sport can generate in the elderly.
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2- Provide tools to sports associations to promote education for the benefits of sport in older people and to allow them to offer recreational sports activities suitable for an elderly audience.
Characteristics of the project:
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Participation in social life: our project aims at involving the elderly in recreational sports activities together with other generations, thus promoting the social inclusion of the over 65 generation
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Development of a healthy lifestyle: thanks to suitable and constant sporting practice, the elderly will be able to reap psycho-physical benefits
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Development of an independent and dignified life: our project proposes a modern and active vision of the elderly: independence means participation and dignity... not solitude.
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Healthy and Active Aging means:
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fully participating in the community life,
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feeling fulfilled and useful also for the new generations,
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maintaining a functional capacity that allows us to lead an independent and disability-free life.
Transnational Meeting
MARCH 2021
Online meeting
Topic:
Getting to know each other, partners' presentations and project objectives.
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OCTOBER 2021
I transnational meeting - Spain.
Topic:
Introduction of the topic: Elderly people in Europe, in families, the pros and cons of the elderly population.
NOVEMBER 2021
II transnational meeting - Italy.
Topic:
The importance of sport for the elderly and how to promote sport for the elderly.
JANUARY 2022
III transnational meeting - Italy.
Topic:
Extreme Generation Dance: teaching of the discipline and improvement of practices.
APRIL 2022
IV transnational meeting - Portugal
Topic:
Extreme Generation Dance: presentation of the results and final evaluation.
Coordinator:
Italy - CONCETTO DANZA
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Concetto Danza is an Italian association located in Cave a small village close to Rome. It is born by an idea of Alessandra D’Attilia which is a professional dancer and the president of the association. She performed internationally and she dreamed for many years to open a dance school.
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The main goal of Concetto Danza is to promote the culture of dance and the benefits related to physical activity in a cultural context such as a small village as Cave. Cave is distanced just one hour and a half from Rome, but far enough to offers fewer opportunities to access to culture and art to its inhabitants.
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For this reason, "ConceptDanza" allows its members to live educational and cultural experiences.
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In addition to teaching the artistic disciplines related to the world of dance, it offers opportunities to live a lot of experiences, creating shows for its community, participating in national competitions, and therefore allowing its young students to travel and build social relationships based on passions, culture, well-being, sport and goals, thus contributing to the cultural formation of its inhabitants.
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This is very important in a provincial reality, where unfortunately many young people drop out of school too early.
Partners:
Lithuania – VŠÄ® SPORTUOKIME KARTU
It is a non-profit organization located in Kaunas, Lithuania. The meaning of the organization's name is LET'S DO SPORTS TOGETHER.
VŠÄ® SPORTUOKIME KARTU's mission is to promote sport and physical activity in free time. With their football school and dance school, they currently work with over 100 children.
Their work is based on children, women, and elderly people with the aim of promoting a healthy lifestyle with good food habits. In addition to organizing football events and dance recitals, they offer training courses on female leadership and senior age issues.
Spain - CLUB GIMNASTICA LA MINA - GERVASIO DEFERR
La Mina is one of the districts with greater social deprivation within the metropolitan area of Barcelona. One of the initiatives currently underway that helps to improve the lives of La Mina residents is the "La Mina - Gervasio Deferr Gymnastic Club" which contributes to the social integration of children living in the neighborhood.
The gymnastics training school center takes care of 100 children with the help of 4 volunteer coaches, with the aim of developing life through sport, reducing the school dropout during the transition from primary to secondary school, encouraging students to stay in school and improve the vision of the neighborhood.
The general objective of the La Mina Gymnastic Club is to contribute to the social integration of the children of La Mina through sport, ensuring their physical, mental and psychological development.
Portugal - CLUB ATLÉTICO DE QUELUZ
With 85 years of sporting activity and reaching thousands of people, the CAQ has long been a pillar of the city of Queluz, Municipality of Sintra (World Heritage Site).
It provides and has always provided sports and social hospitality to all members of society, thus developing great attention to the inclusion of people with fewer opportunities.
Club Atlético de Queluz deals with team sports, such as basketball, but also martial arts, gymnastics, and dance. It is also part of the related national sports federations. Its members participate in numerous international events such as international friendly competitions or international competitions representing Portugal.
The training philosophy and method show, regardless of age, ability, or experience, that everyone can be encouraged to become more active and improve their lifestyle.
Bulgaria -TORNADO 2013 SOFIA
The "Tornado-2013-Sofia" sports club was established in 2013 in Sofia by a group of young people in order to contribute to the social and personal development of local young people.
"Tornado-2013-Sofia" was created with the aim of stimulating the active participation of young people in civil society. It brings together young people of different social statuses, religions, and ethnicity. Work to raise awareness among young people and defend their interests.
Some of the Tornado members are young and ambitious. There are many experts in different fields: sports, media, social activities, and medicine. Tornado organizes various projects and seminars related to sport, the dissemination of the benefits of the same and activities dedicated to existing youth problems, to issues relating to people with disabilities, unemployed, young people in rural areas.
Tornado is a very active sports association in its community: it works with children and young people from foster homes, poor families, the elderly, the unemployed facing many social problems.
The collaboration with families, local authorities, elementary schools, high schools and universities is fundamental for their activities.