Participatory Methods

Intergenerational Dialogue

Intergenerational Dialogue is a participatory activity that brings together people from different generations to share experiences, perspectives, and values, exploring both differences and similarities. This approach fosters mutual understanding, knowledge exchange, and the strengthening of intergenerational relationships.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose: Identify the objectives of the dialogue (e.g., reflecting on a social topic, strengthening community bonds, resolving conflicts).
  2. Select participants: Gather a diverse group representing at least two generations (e.g., youth, older adults).
  3. Design guiding questions: Prepare open-ended questions to encourage reflection and exchange, such as:
    • “What values are most important to your generation?”
    • “What challenges have you faced during your time?”
  4. Prepare the space: Ensure the location is comfortable and facilitates group interaction.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Introduction to the dialogue
    • Explain the purpose of the activity and the importance of mutual listening and learning.
    • Establish a safe and respectful environment for interaction.
  2. Initial presentation round
    • Ask each participant to introduce themselves and share a brief anecdote representing their generation.
    • Use a short activity (e.g., mentioning their favorite music, movie, or invention from their era).
  3. Exploration of similarities and differences
    • Pose open-ended questions to guide the exchange, such as:
      • “What social challenges marked your youth?”
      • “What lessons do you think can be shared with other generations?”
    • Facilitate the dialogue, ensuring all voices are heard.
  4. Collective analysis
    • Reflect on the similarities and differences that emerged during the exchange.
    • Ask:
      • “What did you discover about other generations?”
      • “What can generations learn or adopt from one another?”
  5. Joint construction
    • Invite the group to identify common values or strategies to strengthen intergenerational understanding.
    • For example, design a joint activity, such as a community project or an action plan.
  6. Closing and reflection
    • Summarize the key learnings from the dialogue.
    • Ask participants how they felt during the activity and what ideas they would like to carry forward.
Recommendations
  • Respectful norms: Ensure participants actively listen and value the perspectives of other generations.
  • Generational diversity: Aim to include people from at least two or three generations to enrich the exchange.
  • Documentation: Record key conclusions for later analysis or implementation in joint projects.
  • Adaptability: Tailor the questions and approach to the group’s interests and needs.
Materials
  • Paper and pens for note-taking or recording ideas.
  • Mobile apps like voice recorders or cameras to document the dialogue.
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of Intergenerational Dialogue is to promote mutual understanding and learning across generations, exploring similarities and differences in their experiences, values, and perspectives. This approach fosters connection-building, empathy, and respect, creating a space for the co-creation of ideas and solutions that benefit all generations involved.
Type of activity
Participatory InteractionParticipatory LearningParticipatory Planning
Level of participation
Collaboration, Empowerment, Knowledge generation, Exchange of perspectives
Target audience
Educators, Facilitators, Students, Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Researchers
Fields of application
Education and training, Community development, Urban and rural planning, Health and social well-being, Art, culture, and creativity, Sustainability and environment, Public policies and governance, Research and evaluation, Conflict resolution, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
From 60 to 120 minutes, depending on the depth of the dialogue.
Ideal number of participants
From 8 to 20 participants, ensuring a balance between the generations represented.
Topics related to this activity
Active ListeningCollective LearningCollective ReflectionInclusive ParticipationKnowledge GenerationLife StoriesParticipatory AnalysisParticipatory StorytellingPerspective ExchangeProblem SolvingShared Stories
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