In a Europe where 17.4% of the population is over 65 years old¹, intergenerational education is a valuable tool for strengthening social cohesion and eliminating stereotypical age-related biases. The third and fourth age community can play an active role within an educational process.
In addition, by possessing knowledge and experience of the history and cultural identity of a place, people in these age groups enable younger generations to learn about, protect and update what has been passed down to the present day by word of mouth.
“Story on the plate ΙΙ” was an innovative intergenerational project, where the cooking as a common place and the hands-on contact with the creation of dishes and storytelling, brought children aged 8-12 years old together with people of their grandparents’ age, bringing a field of interaction and adding value to the flavours of the past and the stories associated with them. The ultimate goal of the project was to record the experience and create a handbook that will guide those interested in the project’s implementation with new groups in the wider region of Messinia.
The aim of the project was:
- The preservation, promotion and development of the traditional knowledge of the Messinian cuisine
- Strengthening the sense of pride and giving to people over 64 years of age.
- To inform and raise awareness among children about the gastronomic culture of Messinia through interaction with older generations.
- Strengthening social cohesion and a sense of pride among older people with special knowledge of the Messinian cuisine
- To disseminate and promote intergenerational education more effectively.
The activity “Story on the plate ΙΙ” was a continuation of “Story on the plate” project implemented by MedINA with the donation and care of the Captain Vassilis and Carmen Konstantakopoulos Foundation in cooperation with the Marathopolis Cultural Association and the 10th Primary School of Kalamata.
¹ According to data published by Eurostat in 2012, on 1 January 2010 there were 87 million people aged 65 and over (17.4% of the total population), compared with 59.3 million in 1985 (12.8% of the total population). At this rate, it is estimated that in 2060 there will be fewer than 2 working people (15-64 years old) for every senior citizen.
[retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/productsstatistical-books/-/ks-ep-11-001]
Resources (available in Greek)