Intergenerational initiatives have become increasingly prominent as more research is done pertaining to the benefits of these types of programs. This, in part, is due to the seventeen sustainable development goals the United Nations established in 2015. Many of these goals call for member countries to step up and work towards the overall enhancement of our world. The interconnected nature of these goals and society require extensive effort from all parties involved and intentional action for all of the goals. The elderly and youth play a quintessential role in achieving the SDG’s and improving society. The older generations have priceless experience and maturity, while the younger generations are the future of the world and are filled with spirit and hope. Therefore, connecting these two generations through intergenerational programs and initiatives will maximize our communities’ potential, which will lead us toward achieving the sustainable development goals and improving society.

Sustainable Development Goals and Intergenerational Programs

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) set the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. There are seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that the UN identified as needing immediate attention. The SDGs are an urgent call to action for all of the member countries, whether they are developing nations or not. This is a global partnership that understands achieving goals such as goal #1, ending poverty, and other deprivations are interconnected with strategies that work to improve education and health, incite economic growth, and reduce inequality, while also working to preserve our oceans and forests and taking on climate change. There is not a goal that can be achieved without improvement in all of the goals or without all UN countries doing their part. A list and description of all seventeen SDGs can be found here.

Intergenerational initiatives are programs that are becoming increasingly popular. The overarching goal of intergenerational programs is to promote a world where all generations are valued and engaged. These initiatives act as a strong voice to support the development and expansion of intergenerational programs. Many intergenerational projects have programs that work to strengthen intergenerational connections, which will in turn improve the lives of children, youth, and older adults in our communities. There are countless benefits to intergenerational connections. Some of which include uniting and improving communities, increasing the use of resources due to connecting rather than separating the generations, and more. Additionally, intergenerational programs fight against discrimination, specifically in the form of agism. This is important because discrimination, in any form, limits a person’s potential to contribute to the development of their community. Finally, intergenerational approaches have shown to have a positive relationship to economic growth and value creation. These types of programs are instrumental to the success of the SDGs and building a better, more sustainable society.

While all seventeen SDGs are related to intergenerational activities due to the interconnected nature of the goals, there are five goals that have been identified as having the most significant connections to intergenerational initiatives. The recognized goals are three (Good Health and Well-Being), four (Quality Education), eight (Decent Work and Economic Growth), nine (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and eleven (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Good Health and Well Being

The UN’s third goal for sustainability aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Elderly people require good health to reach old age and to function at a high enough level to still be working and contributing to society. Without good health, all of the benefits of the elderly in society are not possible and neither are intergenerational programs. Intergenerational activities will be a great asset in terms of mental health and overall well-being. Many elderly people suffer from loneliness and limited social interaction which is detrimental to well-being and mental health. Through intergenerational activities, the overall health of both older people and younger people will improve drastically.

Quality Education

The fourth SDG promotes lifelong learning and aims to make living worthwhile in old age through finding a fulfilling purpose. The COVID-19 pandemic had horrific implications on the quality and rate of education globally, making it more important now than ever to include the elderly in education and learning/teaching. Intergenerational transmission of capabilities such as education can have extensive long term benefits. Intergenerational programs should consider education or training that can help develop children’s creativity or critical thinking which will also include the poorest and most marginalized children into such opportunities. The knowledge that very young children can gain from older generations is invaluable. This is also true in terms of the elderly learning from younger people. This type of continuous and flowing learning environment is a goal of the UN and specifically of intergenerational initiatives. Intergenerational solidarity on all levels is very important and should be included in early childhood education and care settings and must be deliberate and by design. Learning from cultural–historical concepts and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, intergenerational programs in early years settings are to be presented as intentional initiatives and opportunities for interrelated and collaborating actors and institutions to bring younger children and older adults together. This will provide older people with purpose and they will have something they know is meaningful and worth working towards and contribute to the education of children.

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Goal number eight of the SDGs works to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. Establishing new sources of income and economic endeavors in old age is an essential part of intergenerational initiatives. Covid has caused the worst economic recession since the great depression and about 400 million jobs were lost. Therefore, piquing new interests in the elderly and helping them find a new career path in old age is essential. Quality education and the endorsement of lifelong work and purpose will allow elderly people to have sustainable and sustained meaningful employment and economic prosperity. The connections made between generations will help foster these new interests while also inspiring young people and helping them find a career path that will be of value to them.

Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The ninth sustainable development goal works to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. There are many initiatives that connect the generations through teaching older people about the internet and digital networks. These projects aim to develop an innovative intergenerational learning exchange between elderly and youth volunteers and can be used to strengthen intergenerational solidarity while improving older people's use of the social networks in order to combine the innovation and dynamic nature of the younger generation with the experience and maturity of eldery people. Innovation is one of the cornerstones of intergenerational initiatives. In an ever changing worldly climate, it is essential to keep the elderly up to speed and involved in the community. This is where younger generations can be of great benefit to the older generations while also creating new initiatives and furthering innovation. Including older generations in innovation will promote inclusive industrialization and resilient infrastructure because it will allow all generations to have a role in innovation and society.

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Finally, the eleventh sustainable development goal seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It is important to have various intergenerational practices and activities in different places, and to promote intergenerational dialogues, collaborations, and shared knowledge. All of which will contribute to the relational and socially sustainable future for which we aim. Cultural sustainability is a large aspect of establishing sustainable communities. Interactions between grandparents and grandchildren have long been identified as beneficial to children’s growth and development. Grandparents are seen as an important family resource, with care and socio-educational roles when engaged in play activities and intergenerational dialogues. Previous research has also established the importance of these familial intergenerational interactions as a means to pass on cultural heritage, and thus contribute to cultural sustainability. Another large factor of goal eleven is inclusivity of communities. This is a main pillar of intergenerational initiatives as the programs focus on bringing people of all ages together. Intergenerational activities are essential in building sustainable and inclusive communities along with achieving the other sixteen SDGs.

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