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Stakeholders: experiences and expectations

During the implementation of the initiative, meetings were held with organizations from Lithuania and partner countries to share their experiences and expectations. As part of this process, partners contributed to developing a stakeholder map, identifying key actors, their roles, and their influence on the initiative’s success. This mapping exercise helped to contextualize the initiative within a broader ecosystem, clarifying how different stakeholders – ranging from policymakers and educational institutions to community groups and industry representatives – interconnect and contribute to its objectives.
All readers are encouraged to reflect on this stakeholder landscape in their contributions, detailing the relevance of each group, their engagement strategies, and how these interactions shape both the initiative’s outcomes and its long-term sustainability.

Lithuanian organizations

Seniors' organizations

One of the most important organizations in Lithuania for older people who want to learn and develop is the Lithuanian Third Age University. There are more than 50 third age universities in Lithuania, which are quite diverse. Some universities are linked to education centres in the regions, and in many cases, they cooperate with schools. They are united by the National Association of Third Age Universities (TAU).
Representatives of the Medardas Čobotas University of the Third Age and Kaunas University of the Third Age believe that young people could offer guidance, instructions and hands-on training of apps, social networks, other online services, etc. Seniors need to be introduced to the available topics so that they know what can be answered and the help they can receive. Not all topics are relevant for both sides. Kaunas’ TAU and Medardas Čobotas TAU has had an emergency IT support model for a year, whereby those who want IT support register and then receive it over the phone or on-site at a computer.
Medardas Čobotas University of the Third Age (MČTAU), together with partners from Finland, Sweden and Norway, carried out a project that resulted in a set of practices for digital skills training programs that can help improve the digital competences of seniors in the Nordic and Baltic countries (read more about it here (tauasociacija.lt).

Possible voluntary work organizers

The Lithuanian Association of Municipal Public Libraries unites 60 public libraries in all municipalities of the country. The experience of public libraries by involving local young people to volunteer in libraries varies, but all of them are active in this field. Some libraries have open youth centres where volunteers also work. Library staff provide digital advice to seniors when needed. Libraries would also be willing to engage in the activities of the initiative if the benefits for the libraries can be made clear.
The Lithuanian Red Cross is one of the most important humanitarian NGO that complements the work done by the State, with a strong focus on the care of lonely seniors. Red Cross volunteers of all ages work in 16 branches covering all 60 municipalities of Lithuania. In some areas, there are seniors' clubs organized by the Lithuanian Red Cross and a seniors' assistance program. Volunteers also visit seniors at home. The digital literacy consultancy methodology could be useful in seniors' clubs, where volunteers could give IT lessons, as well as in home visits to seniors under the "warm visits" program.

Policy-implementing organizations

The activities of the Agency for Youth Affairs in Lithuania are aimed at workers and organi­zations working with young people, and it coordinates the Youth Voluntary Service Program (YVS, see above). Around 1,000 young people a year take part in the service.
Information about the service is disseminated informally or through a network of local organizations. There are about 625 registered host organizations. Each munici­pality has a youth coordinator who can be contacted about voluntary service.

Nordic projects

The Nordic partners have extensive experience in similar projects and have highlighted intergenerational support as a good example.

Notable projects in Finland

In Finland, several notable projects have strengthened inter­generational connections while offering valuable guidance to seniors.
  • The “Oman muotoinen koti” project seeks to find solutions to end youth homelessness and promote intergenerational relation­ships. The "Asunto palvelu­talossa nuorelle 360 e/kk - yhdellä ehdolla"
     series of articles covers the story of three young people who have moved to a retirement home in Helsinki. They pay low rent and spend time with older people. More about the project's objectives, implementation, target groups and partners, as well as the expectations and experiences of young and older people during their time living together, is presented in the blog post "Nuoria muutti asumaan vanhusten palvelutaloon Helsingissä – mitä ihmettä? – Uudistuva sosiaalialan osaaminen – Metropolian blogit".
  • “It – Svenska pensionärsförbundet”
     website provides information and advice for seniors using computers, tablets or smartphones. The website contains educatio­nal and demonstration material on a variety of topics such as online banking, email, social networks and various digital assistants.
  • "Netikäs-projekti (2017-2020) | Eläkeliitto"
     was a three-year project that promoted the well-being and empowerment of seniors through digital services and solutions. The project developed and tested various digital products, such as the Netikäs app, which is used as a personal health diary for seniors, and the Netikäs volunteer training, which trained seniors to teach other people their age to use digital services.
  • "Yhtä köyttä vetämässä | Eläkeliitto
     is a nationwide project that aims to organize meaningful encounters between the older adults and immigrants through intergenerational community activities. The project organizes, for example, meetings, trainings, discussions and outreach that promote participation, well-being, community and cultural competence of the target groups.

Notable projects in Sweden

  • The IT-Guide project
     is an initiative launched in 2011 by Enter Sweden NGO to help young refugees and migrants integrate into Swedish society. The project organizes and provides free IT training and advice for older people who want to learn how to use digital technologies and services. The project also promotes intercultural dialogue and solidarity between different generations and cultures. The participants in the IT-Guide project are refugees or migrants aged between 17 and 20 who have arrived in Sweden and are studying in gymnasium. They are trained and certified as IT facilitators who can help older adults who want to learn how to use computers, the internet, mobile phones, social networks and other digital tools. IT assistants work and gain experience, competences and contacts that can help them in their future job or studies.
  • "Digital in five weeks” project is initiated by Post och Telestyrelsen, Sweden's national communications regulator. It started during the Corona pandemic. The aim is to bridge the digital divide between the generations and to increase older people's independence and social participation. During the project, older people receive one-to-one support from young volunteers who teach them how to use computers, telephones, the internet and other digital tools.
  • Digidelcenter
     is one of the projects that aims to increase the digital partici­pation and competence of citizens. Digidelcenter are places, run by the munici­pality, usually at the library, where people can get free help and advice on how to use digital equipment and the internet. The project is run jointly by Internet­stiftelsen, Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS) and the 15 municipalities receiving project funding (2018). Digidelcenter also cooperates with other organizations such as SeniorNet Sweden and study association.
  • Jönköping University National centre for lifelong learning ENCELL
     is a national organization responsible for research and knowledge dissemination on adult and lifelong learning. From 2015 to 2017, it carried out the Nordplus-funded project Young and Old in Dialogue: dialogue and cooperation between young and old people. The aim of the project was to promote dialogue and cooperation between young and old to build mutual understanding and respect. The project involved partners from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland. During the project, young people and seniors took part in various dialogue and cooperation activities such as: storytelling, language learning, community activities.
  • The Stureskolan Inter - Generational Project was a social experiment in which 15-year-old (Grade 9) pupils from Stureskolan School in Sweden spent a week together with senior citizens from a retirement home. The aim of the project was to promote inter­generational relationships and social learning. The pupils and the pensioners took part in a variety of activities such as nature photography, dance, storytelling and creative writing. The results of the project revealed that the experience increased self-esteem, empathy and positivity in both groups. In this project, the participants were mainly engaged in artistic and cultural activities that stimulated their creativity and communication. The young people received evaluations and diplomas for their work.
  • Digitalidag - started in 2019 and since 2024 a part of the Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) is a national collaboration platform that works to increase digital inclusion in Sweden and prevent new knowledge gaps from arising. By bringing together actors from the private and public sectors and civil society, the goal is to inspire all people to want and be able to participate digitally in society. In 2025, they started a hotline with volunteers from various partners.
  • PRO, SPF, Seniornet and other senior associations are offering different kinds of training, both courses and internet cafes providing personal support with other senior members. Recently, there has been a lot of focus on digital security.  
Nordic Council of Ministers I www.norden.org/publications I pub@norden.org