While there are more young people in the Commonwealth, old people are the fastest growing age group, and their experience is often mis-represented and not well understood.
We believe that by bringing the generations together, we are encouraging mutual respect and understanding, and we are proud to have supported a project in Rwanda which created intergenerational dialogue.
Teaming up with Girl Effect’s TEGA (Technology Enabled Girls Ambassadors) in Rwanda, and HelpAge International, the project aimed to understand the challenges faced by older women, and looked at how women at every age can foster support within communities and across generations.
The TEGA researchers interviewed young women aged between 18-24, and older women aged between 50-90 years old in Rwanda, and collated the conversations into a unique video.
Reflecting on her life experiences, one older woman said when she was young it was hard for a girl to go to school; girls were not supposed to hold meetings, stand for election, or work for the government.
When asked to give some advice, another older woman said she teaches women that when people get together, they achieve a lot.
The women see poverty, loneliness and sickness as the three key social challenges.
While one younger woman appreciated talking to older women to learn from their life experience, another younger woman admitted she didn’t like talking to old people in her area, pointing out that ‘people nowadays are busy and have things to do’. However, she said she liked her aunt as they lived together.
Looking for the way forward, one older woman wished for long-term development, pointing out it’s not just about children’s rights, women’s rights and disabled people’s rights.
Another older woman advised ‘people to work together and be in cooperatives and groups which will help them more than doing it alone’.
‘What I’d love to see in young girls is that they are smart enough to think long-term. They should choose wisely and have a thirst for education. When a child studies, she gains knowledge. Good knowledge. She will know how to fight the struggles ahead.’
Watch the video below (or on our YouTube channel here.)
We hope you enjoy it.
Through our intergenerational projects we are working to reaffirm ongoing value and inclusion of our elders in society, and are lobbying governments and challenging ageism across the 54 countries of the Commonwealth.
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