The Sofia We Care project is a voluntary action that started in spring 2010. The goal is make the elders' needs and wishes heard, and to encourage the elder community and young people interested in working with elders to collectively make these wishes come true. To this aim, we test using social media as a lightweight channel for communication. The aim is to make the action as self-organized as possible.

Meanwhile, the project team is considering possible extensions of the project, to other service homes, to existing volunteer organizations, or in the form of another School of Social Innovation.

For the remaining period of autumn 2010, we have two interrelated goals:

1)
WHAT: Follow up on the wishes of residents at Sofia that were expressed through the questionnaires, idea box, group interviews, and one on one talks. Involve the residents in organizing the actions whenever possible, and try to get new volunteers.
- pets for visit (dog buddies)
- teach a willing resident to use computer and advertise events on Facebook
- let this resident act as a contact person for some event(s)
- organize a walk that residents with rollators can participate in
- chatting with outsiders
- chatting with young people
- knitting workshop
- teach photography
- trips to nature
- story day
- sewing club

WHO: Yan and Riitta are responsible for the continuation. Hanna is already active with dog buddies. Duong, Lore, and Irina are willing to participate in events. A Sofia resident is willing to act as a contact person within the service home. Whenever possible, Riitta and Yan will involve residents and volunteers in taking the concrete action.


2)
WHAT: Try out social media in bringing together young and old. Start up a Facebook community around the Sofia We Care page, and see if it works for:
a) bringing young and old to the same events,
b) finding people to fulfill the listed wishes of the service home residents (goal 1)
c) making new volunteers become interested
WHO: Riitta and Yan will set up a Facebook page Sofia We Care, and start advertising some events there. They will encourage the contactt person and volunteers to advertise future events there.
WHY: to have an online platform for listing wishes from the residents that anyone can fulfill