A DANISH QUESTIONAIREVitale villages with active seniors - 2012-13

Headlines of questionaire1. Which are the common visions among young and

seniors?2. Available educational training on the market today and

wishes for the future?3. How does young and seniors communicate together?4. What stimulates debate and activities across age

diffences?5. How to empower young and seniors in the continuity

and development of the villages?

Focus group• Rural volunteers from Mariagerfjord Municipality• Representatives from the Community centers in the

Northern Jutland

Preliminary resultsDoes young people and seniors have the same visions of how their society may develop?

57/57

Common vision

Preliminary resultsHow often do you meet to discuss new initiatives / visions for your community?

48/57

More often than every six monthsBetween ones every six months and a yearRarerNeverDon’t know

Common vision

Preliminary resultsWhich are the common visions among young and seniors?

37/57

Who participates at these meetings?

Representing an association

Not representing an association

Others

Common vision

Preliminary resultsWhat more could you do in your community to strengthen the development of new ideas and visions?

1. More meetings2. More cooperation among

associations3. The Municipality has to do more…4. Digital exchange between citizens – idea bank5. Ask the children and let them

27/57

Common vision

Preliminary resultsWhy is it that there is no common vision between young people and seniors in your community?

Evening school classes44/57

Courses done by local associations

Courses for the actives in associations

Education

Preliminary resultsWhat type of courses would you like to see locally in the future?

1. Rural districts politics and village development2. First aid, language, sports, food, IT, music, dance etc.3. Association governance and economy4. Creative thinking, communication and body language5. Entrepreneurship – also for young people

33/57

Education

Preliminary resultsWhen was the last time you spoke about a project/activity?

Communication

Young people seniors Seniors young people

Within the last couple of days

Within the last week

Within the last month

Within the last 3 month

Later

Never

Don’t know

15/57 25/57

Preliminary resultsWhat would it take for young and seniors to improve their communication?

12/57

Communication

Young people seniors Seniors young people

• A place to meet and a initiative• Activities aimed at both groups• Cooperation between associations• That the seniors let go of “how it’s

always been”

• Home work café• More common activities• What do young people and seniors

want to do together?

20/57

Preliminary resultsWhat motivates you to enter a dialogue with the seniors?

12/57

Communication

The young people about themselves Seniors beliefs about younger people

• It’s the only opportunity to change for delopment

• The seniors have the knowledge of the past – a lot to give

• Only if we listen to them• If we can be of any help to them –

they are too busy• Only if it can benefit them

(sarcastic answers)• If we can create common activities

20/57

Preliminary resultsWhat do you think motivates the counterpart?

17/57

Communication

The seniors about the young people Younger people beliefs about seniors

• That we listen to the young people and take their input seriously

• If we can solve a problem for them (young people don’t have the time)

• That we together intergenerational can implement projects

• Their interest for the local society• Energy is contagious• Maintain the past as it has always

been• They are often “just” attending, but

at the end they say “it’s not for us”• They can learn something from the

young people

9/57

Preliminary resultsWhich are the greatest challenges in communication with the counterpart?

12/57

Communication

The young people about the seniors The seniors about the young people

• To take the initiative – little time, hard to reach and don’t meet at the same activities

• The lack of common language and intergenerational understanding

• Inertia towards change

• Their lack of time and that we don’t meet and have common activities

• Making them talk about their wishes for the future – they don’t show any interest

• We need a new common digital forum

17/57

Preliminary resultsWhen was the last time you involved yourself in a local activity?

Involvement

Young people Seniors

Within the last couple of days

Within the last week

Within the last month

Within the last 3 month

Later

Never

Don’t know

12/57 23/57

Preliminary resultsWhat would motivate your own age group to do more?

Involvement

Young people Seniors

They must have the offer

Personal invitation

They need a specific tast

Temted with coffee and cake

That they can gain something out of it

Don’t know

12/57 23/57

Preliminary resultsWhat do you think motivate your counterpart to do more?

10/57

Involvement

The young people’s answer The seniors’ answer

• That they feel that their contribution makes a difference

• Maintaining the network• They need to be invited personally

and tempted with coffee and social activities

• They need the offer – a specific task• Desire, community feeling and that

their contribution makes a difference• That they feel an obligation• That other young people contact

them• A carrot for example concert tickets

etc.

17/57