The Europe Challenge

The Local Challenge

The project takes place in a vast area that spreads through the mountains and small villages of Valle Seriana. The population is getting older due to longer life expectancy. More youngsters are also moving to urban areas. Quicksilver is an alliance between the network of public libraries and the elderly care associations, working on the challenge of ageing and rural communities. For this challenge, they are working on positive active ageing, which encourages involvement in the social and cultural life of the community. 

 The Initiative   

During and after the pandemic, social isolation became a prevailing problem in this community. The library and university wants tol establish a multi-tiered community network between families, volunteers, service providers and public administration. This network aims to consolidate individuals and resources engaged in diverse caregiving and socio-cultural activities within a well-structured coordination framework and with a wide spectrum of activities including crafting, cooking classes and group reading. 

After The Europe Challenge

The Challenge team have brought together a range of resources, including information, professionals and the elderly community to produce their board game. The librarians described the challenge process as giving them a “pair of glasses” that helped them see the community they were co-developing with, not only as the recipients of care but active contributors to the social and cultural life of the community, who had valuable knowledge that helped them in understanding caregiving, health management and overall well-being.   

Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.