“Oasis of exchange”: Creating a bridge between generations in Serbia

Ageing is not just a statistic; it is a collection of stories written quietly in every home and on every street. As the number of older people grows in Serbia, a vital question has emerged: How do we recognize their roles, knowledge and potential? In the town of Svilajnac, where close to a quarter of the population is aged 65 and above, the answer is found through direct encounter and collaboration.

For many older people, the greatest challenge is not age itself, but the prejudice that comes with it.

"I often have the impression that older people are seen as a burden – to society, to family, and even to their former workplaces," said Gorica Gajić, a retired economist who left the workforce three years ago and now serves as president of the "Mara Resavkinja" association, the Svilajnac-based women’s group focused on community empowerment and traditional crafts.

Older people are often spoken of as people who have finished their roles and who no longer have anything to offer the community.

“The most common prejudices towards older people are that they are not useful and that they no longer have anything to teach us,” said Milena Radović from the Office for Local Economic Development and Investment Support in Svilajnac.

Rather than using flyers or campaigns to counter these attitudes, the Municipality of Svilajnac, with the support of UNFPA, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and the Centre for Research and Social Development IDEAS, took a more interactive approach by establishing a Resource Centre for Intergenerational Cooperation. It is a space where high school students and retirees meet to talk, work and learn from one another.

"Our goal was to change people's attitude towards older people and work on preventing ageism," explained Monika Petronijević, a member of the Svilajnac Municipal Council. The Centre focuses on active ageing, solidarity between generations and creating informal support networks.

The workshops organized by the Resource Centre for Intergenerational Cooperation brought younger and older people together. They were met with a mix of caution and curiosity. Older participants talked about their childhood and how society has changed over the years, while younger participants shared their perspectives and helped with digital skills.

“Our older fellow citizens wanted to learn how to use social media, although they mostly had some basic knowledge already,” said Kristina Stolić, a second-year high school student. “And we learned a lot about their lives, as well as things that could be useful to us in the future. I understand my parents better now, too. Even if I used to resent some of the things they said, I know they were said with my best interests at heart,” Kristina added.

For retiree Gorica Gajić, intergenerational meetings have a deeper significance.

“Older people also have a responsibility when we talk about the prejudices attributed to them,” she said. “We must remain as active as possible. When you are fulfilled, you are no longer a burden to anyone. You become a desirable company.” She added that spending time with young people brings her energy and hope: “They open new horizons for us. They remind us that smart and brave boys and girls are coming up behind us. It is exactly those kinds of young people I met at the Resource Centre.”

The Resource Centre for Intergenerational Cooperation in Svilajnac is just beginning to realize its full potential. As one of three pilot centres in Serbia – alongside Pirot and Trstenik – it has an ambitious agenda for 2026. This vision is being brought to life through the "PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature" Programme, a collaborative effort supported by the Government of Switzerland and implemented by the Government of Serbia in partnership with United Nations agencies UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNEP.

With this strong backing, the Resource Centre’s activities in 2026 will continue to enhance intergenerational solidarity, encourage volunteerism and empower older persons to be active in the community. This includes fostering entrepreneurship and employment opportunities tailored to the needs, knowledge and skills of older persons, which can spark a local “silver economy”.

The three participating municipalities have expressed their commitment to continue supporting their Resource Centres beyond the duration of the PRO programme. Building on these initial results, efforts will also be made to encourage other local governments in Serbia to adopt and adapt this model within their communities.

This forward-thinking approach is not just local – it is global. By putting these ideas into practice, Svilajnac is aligning itself with the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Strategy for Active and Healthy Ageing of the Republic of Serbia (2024–2030). Together, these policies champion the fight against ageism, proving that when we invest in social participation and intergenerational support, the entire community thrives.

As facilitator Stefan Lazarević put it, the goal is for the Centre to be an "oasis of exchange" where generations are defined not by their differences, but by what connects them.

In a time when an ageing population can spark fear, Svilajnac offers a different response: Meeting. Talking. Learning. Because a community is only as strong as the bridges between its people.