Give&Take co-designs an innovative digital platform that enables senior citizens to reciprocally exchange services and resources, creating new opportunities for senior citizens to contribute to society as volunteers and caregivers in their local communities. The GiveTake project is funded under the EU’s AAL programme.
Project Homepage: givetake.eu
Through social and digital media innovation the Give&Take project:
Strengthens the quality of life of senior citizens through occupation and social engagement as a key to mental, social and physical fitness.
Explores the societal potential of informal community support and civic engagement for tasks currently supported by the public sector.
Improves the ability of senior citizens to live as independently as possible.
A shift from public care services to informal community support and civil engagement not only empowers seniors but also prevents dependencies and increased public consumption – several national and European projects have demonstrated how volunteering networks are defining new learning opportunities and ways to contribute to society. The senior citizens have untapped knowledge and experience, time and energy, as well as their own financial resources to contribute as citizens, volunteers, and particularly as workers and consumers.
Senior citizens desire engagement in society and the public sector needs to engage civic society in order for the welfare system to survive. The Give&Take cross-media platform solution is prepared to interface with the public elderly care system as well as in independent local senior organizations.
In Austria, there are 5 active Give&Take Communities, organised by volunteers and organisations.
Nachbarschaftszentren: The Nachbarschaftszentrum in Vienna 1220 and Vienna 1060 have active groups. While NBZ22 is organised and used by older adults loosly attached to the organisation, NBZ6 is organised around a group of English learners of varying ages who regularly meet to practice and enhance their knowledge.
Seniorenkolleg: The Seniorkolleg offers computer courses for older adults who use the platform to exchange organisational information and knowledge around their courses.
Seniorenzentrum Schwechat: A group of older adults who regularly visit and meet in the Seniorenzentrum Schwechat used the group to exchange favours.
Commonroom: This is a community of people interested in crafting and making who advertise their workshops and update their community using a Give&Take group.
Team: Geraldine Fitzpatrick, Ozge Subasi, Katharina Werner, Naemi Luckner
Contributors: Florian Guldenpfenning, Francisco Nunes
Student Contributors: Stephanie Ta, Janis Meissner
Guest Researchers: Jinglan Zhang (January-June 2016-QUT, Australia), Julia Loup (from September 2016- USC, USA)
International Partners: IT University of Copenhagen, Socialsquare, TaketheWind, Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KADK), Frederiksberg Municipality
Contact: givetake@igw.tuwien.ac.at