The LEGENDS project has reached an important milestone, moving from research and consultation to the practical implementation of its intergenerational approach.
Over 250 educators, older adults and young people across Europe participated in questionnaires and focus groups, providing valuable insights into their needs, expectations and digital habits. These findings directly informed the development of the LEGENDS curriculum and helped shape an approach that responds to the realities of intergenerational learning.
The research highlighted several factors that can make intergenerational activities more meaningful and effective. Building trust at the beginning of each session is essential, while participants benefit when activities draw on their individual strengths. Older adults bring valuable lived experience and personal stories, while younger participants often contribute greater digital confidence. Participants also emphasised the importance of practical support, including working in small and consistent groups, establishing clear ground rules from the outset, and providing facilitators with accessible, plain-language guidance. Privacy and consent were also identified as important considerations throughout the process.
A Curriculum Shaped by Evidence and Tested in Practice
These findings were brought together by the LEGENDS consortium in a comprehensive curriculum designed to support educators and facilitators in delivering intergenerational workshops.
The LEGENDS Facilitators’ Toolkit provides practical guidance across the full workshop process, including facilitation techniques, digital literacy for older adults, digital and urban storytelling, and guided excursions. The modules are complemented by trainer resources and supporting media, including presentations and interactive tools.
The curriculum was subsequently tested through national pilot workshops, bringing together more than 90 participants. The pilots demonstrated the potential of the LEGENDS approach to create meaningful connections between generations. Participants quickly identified common interests, while young people showed genuine curiosity about the experiences, memories and stories of older adults.
Feedback from the pilot workshops was incorporated into the final revisions. The LEGENDS curriculum is now finalised and will soon be available through the project website for educators, facilitators and organisations interested in using the approach in their own communities.
Equipping Facilitators to Deliver the LEGENDS Approach
With the curriculum now finalised, the project has entered its next stage: preparing the educators and facilitators who will bring the LEGENDS approach to life.
Train the Trainers sessions are currently being delivered in Belgium, Cyprus, Italy and Greece. The sessions are designed to equip participants with the knowledge, practical tools and methodologies needed to deliver intergenerational storytelling activities effectively and confidently.
The training also supports facilitators in creating inclusive environments where participants of different ages can share experiences, develop digital skills and work together to explore local heritage. All participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the training.
Educators and facilitators interested in participating can find out more by contacting the LEGENDS project partners through the project website.
From Local Stories to a European Digital Map
The project is now preparing for its final implementation phase. In November, the LEGENDS consortium will meet in Athens to coordinate the roll-out of the upcoming intergenerational workshops.
Following their training, facilitators will lead digital storytelling workshops bringing older adults and young people together to explore, document and share local heritage. The workshops will be complemented by local excursions, allowing participants to engage directly with the places, memories and stories that are meaningful to their communities.
The stories and cultural heritage collected through these activities will contribute to the final output of the project: a European-wide digital map bringing together the memories, stories and heritage documented by participating communities.
The map will provide a shared digital space where these stories can be preserved and made accessible to a wider European audience, creating a lasting record of the connections and knowledge developed through the LEGENDS project.
Stay Connected
For more information about the LEGENDS project, its curriculum, training opportunities and upcoming activities, visit legendsproject.eu.