As digital multimedia devices increasingly pervade people’s lives and foundational elements that connect and develop a society, namely communication, culture and education, are moving their services online, elderly adults do not only find themselves digitally excluded but also socially isolated and marginalized. Intergenerational learning interventions aim to foster interaction between different generations.

Research shows that intergenerational contact and educational interventions are among the most effective interventions for reducing ageism and promoting social cohesion. Culture has often been cited as a connecting force between communities. The innovative element of FLOURISH is its use of cultural heritage interventions as the bridge for sustained interaction and learning between generations.

The FLOURISH project will encourage youth aged 18-30 to work collaboratively with disadvantaged elderly adults over the age of 65 to create and record the process of creation of a cultural heritage product. The project will encourage an environment of knowledge and skill exchange, active cultural participation and digital capacity building within a framework of cooperation and meaningful learning, which is the basic foundation for a less divided and exclusionary society.