Intergenerational Connectedness: Building a Sense of Belonging

Have you ever tried to get into a private club without being a member? Even if you make it past the bouncer, you’re likely to feel out of place. Similarly, when we feel like outsiders in a group, we lack a sense of belonging. This can often happen in intergenerational communities where generational differences may lead to feelings of exclusion.

Today, we’re focusing on Intergenerational Connectedness as part of the five characteristics that determine the quality of intergenerational communities:

Positive Interactions

Connectedness

Interdependence

Accommodation

Empowerment

This article follows the discussion on Positive Interactions, where we explored the importance of frequent and meaningful conversations in fostering intergenerational relationships.

What Is Connectedness?

Connectedness is the sense of belonging among individuals in a community, where people feel they are part of something bigger than themselves. It’s similar to the concept of family—an ideal family, where differences are accepted, and members look out for each other.

This sense of belonging is what makes any group a true community. Without it, loyalty and engagement are difficult to achieve. For intergenerational communities, where diversity in perspectives is naturally high, fostering Connectedness is especially important to maintain unity.

The Link Between Positive Interactions and Connectedness

Positive Interactions lay the groundwork for Connectedness. Without frequent and meaningful interactions, Connectedness cannot flourish. Shallow conversations, like small talk about the weather, do little to build bonds. To create a true sense of belonging, interactions must go deeper and occur often.

A Personal Example of Connectedness (or Lack Thereof)

I once worked at a school for a year. It was a large institution, and I was assigned to teach a subject outside my area of passion or expertise—which didn’t help. But the real challenge was the lack of connection. Most colleagues didn’t take the time to get to know me, and our conversations were surface-level at best. I felt like an outsider, and no one seemed to notice whether I stayed or left. Unsurprisingly, I chose to leave after a year.

On the other hand, I’ve worked in environments where leaving was difficult because of the strong connections I had built. These places felt like true communities, where people genuinely cared about and supported one another.

Connectedness is essential for any community to thrive, particularly intergenerational ones. Without it, the diversity that could be a strength becomes a source of division.

How to Build Connectedness in Intergenerational Spaces

To foster Connectedness, communities need to build on Positive Interactions by creating opportunities for deeper connections. Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Small-Group Conversations

Encourage one-on-one or small-group interactions where people can share their stories and get to know one another on a deeper level. These intimate settings often lead to stronger bonds than large, impersonal gatherings.

2. Storytelling and Testimonies

Organise informal interviews or storytelling sessions during events. For example:

In a workplace, host “tell us about yourself” segments during team meetings.

In a community gathering, invite individuals from different generations or cultural backgrounds to share their experiences.

Hearing someone’s story helps listeners empathise with their journey and find common ground, even when their perspectives differ.

3. Shared Experiences

Create events that bring generations together in meaningful ways, such as:

Collaborative projects that require input from multiple generations.

Social events like potlucks, game nights, or group outings.

These shared experiences help build trust and camaraderie among participants.

Respecting Differences While Building Unity

Connectedness doesn’t mean everyone must agree on everything. Learning about others’ journeys helps us appreciate their viewpoints, even when they differ from our own. As a society, we need to embrace the idea that respect and friendship don’t require total agreement.

In the next article, we’ll explore the characteristic of Interdependence, which focuses on how generations can rely on and support one another to create a stronger, more cohesive community.

I’m Dr. Joe Azzopardi, helping you unite the generations.