News

We are happy to share the news that today, 11 October 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has published and made freely available, the Connecting Generations Guide. It builds on the evidence in the Global report on ageism that interventions for intergenerational contact have been proven to work in addressing ageism, together with policy, law and educational interventions.

Connecting Generations provides step-by-step guidance for anyone wanting to use inter-generational practice to combat ageism and to promote understanding and mutual respect among generations.

ICDI staff were amongst the panel of experts who peer reviewed ‘Connecting Generations’ during its development and the TOY programme is included as a case study and one of the featured intergenerational organisations around the world in the Guide.

The Guide, which was edited by the Demographic Change and Health Ageing team in WHO, is part of the global campaign to combat ageism.

Registration is open for the next TOY Online Course which takes place between 7 November and 11 December 2022. The course, titled, “Together Old and Young: An Intergenerational Approach” is unique in its focus on young children (0 – 10 years old) and older adults and aims to promote awareness and expertise to support you in developing good quality, sustainable intergenerational practice. The course is constantly being updated with the latest research findings and publications. This edition has an expanded section on IGL as a pedagogical strategy in early childhood education and care.

Click here to find out more about this free 4-module course and to register.

Share A Story: Children’s Books Ireland launches intergenerational reading guide with Together Old and Young (TOY), Hibernia College and Generations Working Together 

Curated reading guide for educators of children 0–12 promotes building of intergenerational connections through shared reading.

Today marks the first day of Global Intergenerational Week. Taking place from 25^th April – Sunday 1^st May, this week connects older and younger generations to reach new understandings and inspire empathy.

Stories have the power to bring people of all ages together, creating a moment of shared warmth and imagination. To help early years educators and primary school teachers celebrate this global moment of intergenerational unity, Children’s Books Ireland, Together Old and Young, Hibernia College and Generations Working Together have compiled a reading guide of books that are perfect for this very purpose.

>> Read more

More than 60 Dublin-based community-based workers and volunteers took part in an intergenerational practice masterclass in Dublin on 7^th April 2022. It was jointly organised by Fingal County Council’s Community Development Office and the Fingal Community Facilities Network  . Fingal is local authority north of Dublin City. The Masterclass attracted a very diverse group of community-based practitioners and local authority staff, all wanting to learn more about intergenerational practice. They came from youth work, family support services, addiction services, community centres, day centres, active age groups, sports facilities, and early childhood education and care.

>> Read more

We are delighted to share the news of the publication of: ‘Intergenerational Bonds: The Contributions of Older Adults to Young Children’s Lives’. TOY co-coordinators, Margaret Kernan and Giulia Cortellesi contributed the Foreword.

This very well researched book was edited by Mary Renck Jalongo and Patricia A. Crawford and published by Springer as part of their Educating the Young Child Series.

>> Read more