Portugal
Recipes with Smiles
“Recipes with Smiles” is the name of an intergenerational initiative promoted by Centro Social de Azurva in Aveiro, an institution with facilities and services for young children and older people. It involved seniors spending time in the kindergarten, cooking their favourite recipes with the young children and sharing the prepared food with a larger group of kindergarten children during meal times. They also produced a recipe book based on their memories and stories relating to their culinary heritage. Both groups were inspired by cooking together and were keen to repeat the experience. In total, 45 from three to six-year-old children and 8 seniors – all women ranging in age from 63 to 95 - were involved, along with the support of the kindergarten teacher. An additional benefit was the opportunity for older people to make a valuable contribution to the cultural heritage of the younger generation.
Contact details: Sofia Vieira, geral@centrosocialazurva.org
“I accepted the invitation to join the activity because I believe I have something to teach the children, old knowledge taught by my parents. I made the recipe just like my mother did and it is different from nowadays.”
“Will the seniors be back again to cook with us?”
Intergenerational TOY Library: 1, 2, 3... Let’s Play Again?
“Recipes with Smiles” is the name of an intergenerational initiative promoted by Centro Social de Azurva in Aveiro, an institution with facilities and services for young children and older people. It involved seniors spending time in the kindergarten, cooking their favourite recipes with the young children and sharing the prepared food with a larger group of kindergarten children during meal times. They also produced a recipe book based on their memories and stories relating to their culinary heritage. Both groups were inspired by cooking together and were keen to repeat the experience. In total, 45 from three to six-year-old children and 8 seniors – all women ranging in age from 63 to 95 - were involved, along with the support of the kindergarten teacher. An additional benefit was the opportunity for older people to make a valuable contribution to the cultural heritage of the younger generation.
Contact details: Sofia Vieira, geral@centrosocialazurva.org
“We love and care for them because they are ‘tomorrow’s adults’ and it is enriching for them to be in contact with the old people to receive good advice and a good example.”
“The intergenerational activities present an opportunity for all those involved to experience an atmosphere of ‘giving and receiving’ with fraternity, generosity, promoting feelings of gratitude.”
“I like the seniors. They are our friends like our grandparents because they play games and do activities with us."