SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Nov. 21 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Ministry of Social Welfare of the Government of the Canary Islands, via the general directorates for Seniors, Active Participation and Youth, has introduced an application designed to connect the elderly community with young people to combat unwanted solitude.
This initiative, unveiled this Thursday at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Government in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is a groundbreaking platform aimed at linking young and older individuals through video communications and messaging, which initially will be tested in various regional government centres before expanding to others in the coming months.
“We aspire to create connections among older individuals, who possess much to offer and from whom we can learn significantly, particularly by sharing their experiences with younger generations through these modern communication tools,” stated the Minister of Social Welfare, Candelaria Delgado, during the launch of the APP ‘Dialogae’.
According to her perspective, the issue of unwanted loneliness among our elderly population is a concerning reality, prompting the introduction of this application intended to promote intergenerational connections, whilst simultaneously working to bridge the technological gap faced by our more senior residents.”
She also highlighted that ‘APP Dialogae’ will facilitate the establishment of secure communication spaces between the younger and older residents of the islands, “in an endeavour of mutual enrichment.”
Verónica Meseguer, the director general for Senior Citizens and Active Participation, elaborated that “‘Dialogae’ is a pioneering digital platform, available in both web and app formats, that adheres to European guidelines to tackle loneliness by encouraging contact between generations via a secure system for video and chat communications.”
In this regard, she emphasised that the design of the application promotes the creation of connection spaces based on shared interests, thereby fostering rich dialogue between youth and adults.
“This is the first significant intergenerational and inter-institutional collaboration project we are developing in the Canary Islands and forms part of the strategic objectives of the General Directorate for Seniors, focusing on enhancing active participation, technological inclusion, and the fight against unwanted solitude among our older residents,” she remarked.
The general director of Youth for the Government of the Canary Islands, Daniel Morales, asserted that they are taking a “decisive step” towards achieving “a more compassionate, intergenerational, and connected Canary Islands.”
He pointed out that ‘Dialogae’ “is the outcome of an identified need, but it became feasible owing to the collaboration between the two general directorates functioning in unison within the same Ministry.”
YOUNG VOLUNTEERS
Morales further noted that “the young volunteers not only gain credits but also develop empathy and experiences that can profoundly impact lives; this represents a significant advancement in the fight against social exclusion and in favour of a more inclusive society, with the Canary Islands leading by example, utilising technology, compassion, and vision for the future.”
Additionally, the Youth Councilor of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Serafín Mesa, remarked that “even though youth appears consistently connected, numerous young people also experience forms of emotional isolation.”
He observed that this initiative “serves as a vital resource for bridging generational divides, promoting mutual understanding and providing young individuals with a valuable opportunity to learn and grow through the insights and experiences of older citizens.”
According to Mahesh Daswani, the creator and developer of the ‘Dialogae APP’, the objective of the programme is to “construct bridges” that illustrate how a simple conversation can transform an individual’s life, “contributing together to a more compassionate and less isolated society.”
The application provides, for those keen to connect immediately, the ‘DialogNow’ feature, which allows for instant connection with another available user, thereby facilitating prompt contact.
