Aim: To develop the benefits of an intergenerational approach to youth workforce development.

6.1. The Intergenerational Approach

Intergenerational approach is the bringing together diverse groups and helping to eliminating negative stereotypes as young people and develop relationships with each other’s culture. It encourages tolerance and helps build a sense of personal and societal identity. Intergenerational approach involves young people working together to address social problems in a country or an organization. 

The involvement of youth worker groups for Community Health Volunteerism and youth development is the responsibility or approach to intergenerational development and toward improving young people’s lives. The same way, young people takes it as a responsibility to contribute to their own community developments.  It helps young people to network and build their capacities through community engagement. The youth also work and learn from each other, fostering healthy relationships and youth participation in the society and national development.

6.2. Intergenerational Approach Implementation

The intergenerational approach, when implemented in the development of youth labor skills and competencies, will have the potential to bring young people from various cultural backgrounds together in a constructive manner to support efforts in ways to preventing social problems in both current and future ones, problems such as youth unemployment, low literacy, health issues, etc.

 In the development of youth labor skills and competencies, it should be an established supportive environment for young people, given meaningful opportunities and youth involvement in decision-making processes and empowerment events or programmes such as community activities like getting involved in youth radio, conducting youth seminars for community members and others, are the most important factors that seem to contribute to resilient youth competences for intergenerational development. Intergenerational approach can help promote labor skills training for the youth in the technical area of developmental skills, example, equipping young people with technological skills.

The intergenerational approach is based on process, which is time and labor-intensive, and results take time to materialize.  However, intergenerational approach has great potential in building youth labor skills and competencies when adequately developed. It built the capacity of both young people and adults in implementing activities, which may contribute to broader community participation in youth development. The increase capacity and participation helps communities work together on addressing other social problems or issues. 

7.0. Benefits of an intergenerational approach to youth workforce development

• Energize young people, older adults and give a sense of purpose, especially when the old aged share their experiences and skills with the youth.
• Reduces a sense of isolation for older adults as the young people always link up with them and potentially relieves or lessons depression among the old.
• All generation learn new skills.