Rachel Buchanan, Policy Officer, AGE - the European Older People's Platform was a special guest. Ms. Buchanan presented the activities of the network and the European campaign to mark the first European day of solidarity between generations. 

Zlatina Shperova, expert at the Ministry of Labour and social policy addressed the participants on behalf of deputy minister Dr. Yasen Yanev. 
Successful projects realised by civil organisations with the active participation of people fro all ages that are based on solidarity and mutual support were presented. 

Zoya Krutilin, Kapka Kuncheva, teachers from the American- English School and young people from Miguel de Cervantes Spanish speaking high school spoke about the common activities between children and the seniors from “Silver fall” run by Charity Association Hospice Miloserdie. 

Cenka Dimitrova from Third Age foundation and Yordanka Spirova from Day centre for elderly people in Ruse presented the joint activities of children and elderly people including training on computer literacy and Internet in Ruse and Svalenik and Koshov villages. 

Albena Matova presented the “Granny and grandchild” initiative supported by Tabitha Bulgaria Foundation and the International Ladies Club. Some 60 elderly women play and talk with twice more children without family care in institutions in Dren, Gorski Senovec, Buzovgrad, Pirdop and Pleven. The tender and personalised care they provide has a great positive impact on the children. 

Yulia Peneva from the community club in Yasen village, Pleven municipality told about two projects run by Pleven Public Fund Chitalishte in which Chitalishte Prosveta take active part for some three years now. “Together against the loneliness” project brings together people from different generations and the young help elderly people who live alone in villages in their everyday routine. The activities in the frame of the “The arts – bridge towards a social change” project build bridges between children from isolates rural communities and elderly artists. 

Tanya Gebova presented “Danube network” project implemented by the European management centre. The project is aimed at creation of an intercultural network of people at their late age from the countries along the Danube River and their social integration and involvement in the civil society and the process of integration of the EU countries. The participants are people over 55 living in a Home for elderly in Soifa and community club in Opanec village, municipality of Pleven. 

Valentina Georgieva representative of Znanie (Knowledge) Association spoke about the current project of the organisation – “The seniors in action”. The project encourages the dialog between two different social groups – the people at their late age and the children through the means of education and culture. The seniors aged over 55 share their knowledge and experience with pupils in the primary school age in the frame of the project. 

The activities of “The volunteers in the hospitals” in Plovdiv were presented by Reneta Veneva from the National Alliance for Voluntary Action and Grigorii Doikin who is one of the numerous volunteers of the organisation trained to work in a team and deliver social – psychological support to patients the hospitals. The people with good will and at different ages visit hospitals according to a schedule and talk with them and help them in various daily activities thus replacing the relatives when these are missing or are not able to visit the patient. 

Representatives of various organisations, working with and for elderly people, children, young people, women, people with disabilities, social and educational institutions participated in the meeting. The aim was to widen the social debate and to incorporate various up to date aspects of social inclusion. The organizers see this discussion as a beginning of effective process of consultations with elderly people. 

The discussion was organised with the support of the European commission in the frame of the project “Promotion of older people’s social inclusion through national and local public debates”, realised by Tulip Foundation in partnership with 11 organisations from eight EU member states.