communitiy gardens
DESCRIPTION
The project “Including the Elderly in Community Gardens” was designed to encourage this population group – senior citizens in their “golden years” – to participate in a variety of activities in community gardens and nature sites around Jerusalem. Through these activities the project seeks to increase the active, voluntary participation of the elderly in the greening of Jerusalem, to raise their awareness and commitment to the environment, and to solidify their engaged participation as a cohesive group within the broader community. The project was initiated and led by the Municipality of Jerusalem, JDC-ESHEL (the Association for the Planning and Development of Services for the Aged in Israel), the Jerusalem Foundation, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the Society for the Protection of Nature, with the participation of the Jerusalem Association of Community Councils and Idan, an NGO operating within this sector. (A full list of partners can be provided.)TRANSCRIPT
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Evaluation Studies Integrating Seniors
in Community Gardens
The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Dr. Maya Choshen
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Jerusalem – A Unique City
• Jerusalem’s many layers and
features are constantly
interweaving, resulting in a city
that is truly one of a kind –
splendid yet also complicated.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
The Jerusalem Mosaic
• The neighborhood structure of Jerusalem and the
social and cultural richness of its residents
• are part of its beauty and character… but they are also
the source of its complexity and conflicts.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• The population complexity
creates a broad spectrum of needs
• Including the need to narrow the gaps
between different population groups
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• Those who are similar tend to gather in
“familiar” neighborhoods, while those who
differ distance themselves geographically
from one another.
• In Jerusalem, this segregation is extremely
clear among the three principal population
sectors - the general Jewish population, the
ultra-orthodox and the Arabs.
• Even within this groups there is socio-
economic diversity and a range of social
needs.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• The element that makes it possible for everyone to meet is the public
space.
• Community gardens exemplify the potential use of public space to
integrate different population groups and reduce the gaps among
them.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• Nature and the environment are issues all residents in the city can
relate to and these can be the basis for broad-based cooperation
among different population groups that might not otherwise meet.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• The structure of Jerusalem’s neighborhoods
enables gatherings in one public space relatively easily.
• The city’s community gardens operate for this purpose as well as
other purposes.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Community Gardens
• Natural sites and green public areas dot
Jerusalem, providing an infrastructure
basis for beautifying the city and building
partnerships among different groups.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Potential Key ChangesGenerated by Community Gardens
Through these sites, residents:
– Strengthen their connection to the community and to the city,
– Develop a sensitivity to preserving nature,
– Incorporate all groups within the community into activities.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
JIIS Evaluation Studies
• So where do we come in?
• For a decade now, JIIS has conducted Evaluation Studies of projects
operating in Jerusalem, mainly:
– Social
– Welfare
– Educational projects.
• Between 6-8 projects are commissioned each year.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Evaluation studies are an important part of the Institute’s research basis.
They assist in the following ways:
•For project implementers to monitor
improve, and maintain the project;
•For foundations, project initiators,
and other funding bodies
to assess the achievement of objectives
to understand possible avenues for
their continued involvement.
•For us as researchers , evaluation
studies help to learn about :
– changes in the city at the micro level;
– connect the micro and macro levels
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• In evaluation studies we examine a
given project multidimensionally,
employing a wide range of research
methods.
• The evaluation study of the
Community Garden project well
illustrates our work.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Community Gardens - Background
The project was born of the principle that community gardens not only
boost a neighborhood’s attractiveness, they also:
• Stimulate social interaction.
• Provide a useful learning tool to teach children and adults the concept and
practice of community responsibility and cooperative behavior.
• Serve as a neutral forum where activities can be created that connect local
residents and, indeed, different communities throughout the city.
• Provide urban city dwellers with a close and personal connection to
nature.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• A community garden is usually a joint initiative of people living in
close proximity to each other and a local authority, business or
organization for the purpose of creating a new garden or enhancing
one that exists.
• Each community garden reflects the specific wishes and needs of its
surrounding population.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• Jerusalem leads the country in the development of community
gardens
• The Community Gardens project initiated by the Jerusalem
Municipality has been a resounding success. It has contributed to the
quality of life of the city, has brought together diverse organizations
and funding sources, and has led to an active “network of green
communities.”
• In Jerusalem, there are presently 33 active community gardens, spread
over seventeen neighborhoods.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Elderly Community
CommunalGarden
Integrating Seniors in Community Gardens
One of the primary target groups for the project was senior citizens, with
the stated aims of:
• Increasing their active, voluntary participation in the greening of
Jerusalem;
• Raise their awareness of and
commitment to the environment; and
• Solidifying their participation
as a cohesive group within
the broader community.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
It is grounded in the belief that integration of these elements will generate
cooperation and cross-fertilization, which in turn will lead to an
improved quality of life and more fruitful activities in each of the
following spheres:
• The communal aspect
• The societal aspect
• The inter-personal aspect
• The environmental aspect
• The educational/professional aspect
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
The communal aspect – Including the elderly in “green” communal activities and
creating a communal dialogue between the elderly and retired, on the one
hand, and “other communities,” on the other hand.
The societal aspect – Developing social-experiential activities within
nature sites and neighborhoods in a range of areas relevant to the
elderly and retired, with a link to the environment, environmental
issues, and the community.
The inter-personal aspect – Generating activities for leisure time with a
view to reducing feelings of loneliness and reinforcing a sense of
communal belonging, as well as increasing elderly engagement in the
cultivation of their residential surroundings.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
The environmental aspect – Developing tools to improve the environment
and the quality of life for the community in general and for the elderly
in particular while, concurrently, making the values of the environment
and nature more accessible at the residential level, forming links with
and a sense of responsibility for the environment, and providing space
to promote environmental engagement.
The educational/professional aspect – Increasing professional knowledge
in the development of green communities and the integration of elderly
into these communities, with a view to expanding this knowledge for
the benefit of other cities and activities with other disenfranchised
communities.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• The project was initiated and led by the Municipality of Jerusalem,
JDC-ESHEL (the Association for the Planning and Development of
Services for the Aged in Israel), the Jerusalem Foundation, the Ministry
of Environmental Protection, and the Society for the Protection of
Nature, with the participation of the Jerusalem Association of
Community Councils and Idan, an NGO operating within this sector.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Methodology
At the request of the Jerusalem Foundation, JIIS monitored the
Community Gardens project for
. Our methodology was based on a range of qualitative and quantitative
tools and techniques, including:
– participation in steering committee and garden coordinators’ meetings;
– return visits to all the gardens on weekly activity days;
– one-on-one meetings with the coordinators;
– participant observations in the activities of the project;
– observing activities in training courses;
– distributing questionnaires to participants and evaluation reports to
facilitators; and
– analyzing the resulting data.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Integrating Seniors in Community Gardens
Among the most salient findings of this project is the indication of the
success of the communal garden as a communal meeting place for
people of various ages and various backgrounds with varying types of
needs.
The evaluation study indicates that :
•all participants benefited from the project,
– whether by cultivating personal surroundings,
– creating social connections,
– enjoying emotional enrichment,
– or strengthening ties to the neighborhood.
•The organizations that participated in the project experienced a learning
process in matters relating to coping with aging.
•The physical space itself showed a visible change.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Findings
Our research found that each of the participating organizations
developed different models for integrating the elderly in community
gardens and “green” activities.
In all, seven different models were developed to suit the different needs
of each neighborhood and the elderly population within it:
1. Gardening group
2. Home-based group
3. Series of meetings – intended primarily
for exploration and increasing
participants’ awareness and
knowledge relating to
environmental issues.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
4. Community greenhouse – provides equipment and plantings for
various groups active in the neighborhood.
5. Gardening patrol Activities related to the “Weekly Day of Action in the
Community Garden” (Gardening and social activities that enable the
elderly population to participate actively and independently in
community gardening).
6. Activities related to the “Weekly Day of Action in the Community
Garden”
7. Home visits – designed for housebound elderly.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• These models were developed to meet the needs of groups with
different characteristics while taking into account such considerations
as the needs of the neighborhood itself alongside existing
infrastructures and resources. All considerations must be
consolidated by the on-site coordinators, whose familiarity with the
neighborhood, its existing infrastructures and resident populations is,
therefore, extremely influential and significant.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
The Challenges Ahead
While the project was rather successful, challenges still lie ahead that
should be addressed in order to improve its efficacy. Among them:
•The elderly do not comprise a homogenous community, but rather
include a variety of age groups with differing needs and characteristics
(e.g., mobility, physical limitations, or independence).
•The needs and characteristics of the target population were not fully
known – and should be evaluated in order to augment the project’s
success in the future.
•Coordination among the various professional
bodies remains difficult, particularly between
professionals from the elderly community and
professionals in the area of gardening.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Recommendations
• The community should be divided into sub-groups according to specific characteristics and needs.
• The relations among the professional bodies involved need to be strengthened, with a view to the needs of the elderly.
• The needs of the neighborhood and those of the elderly within the neighborhood should be mapped and integrated.
• Professional community workers, particularly those specializing in the needs of the elderly, should be included in and allowed to guide the project.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Community Health Promotion Program
for Elderly Women in Jerusalem
The project seeks to promote the health of underprivileged elderly women
residents of the lower-class Katamonim neighborhood in Jerusalem. The
first step in this project was to set up and train a network of volunteers
who now work with the participants in the community.
•The project strives to improve the status of the elderly women, to
develop conditions and services to guarantee better their quality of life,
and to improve the image of older people to society as a whole.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Dr. Maya Choshen
JIIS Evaluation Studies Integrating Seniors
in Community Gardens
Thank youThank you
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Other JIIS Evaluation Studies
"The Community Believes in Education – Better Together"
This community education program began in 2000, based on the premise
that within a community there is the strength, wisdom, knowledge and
desire to ensure the education of neighborhood children and youth. jiis is
examining
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
JIIS EVALUATION STUDIES
• These studies have advantages both for the client requesting the study
and those creating the project
• They provide a broad data resource which accumulates with every
additional project
• The research approach is interdisciplinary and multidimensional,
which is particularly suited to Jerusalem’s complex character
• Through these studies JIIS has developed an ever-expanding network
and professional ties with governmental and non-governmental
organizations, municipal officials, experts, practitioners and public
activists.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Aim of evaluation studies
• To provide ongoing feedback and targeted assessments during the
course of a project;
• To identify strengths and weaknesses of a project during its initial and
intermediate stages, and offer ideas for improvement and/or
enhancement;
• To measure a project’s success, based on stated objectives, and its
contribution to the neighborhood in general and the target community
in particular;
• To assist the project’s designers and facilitators in defining project’s
goals
• To assist in a project’s diffusion and implementation
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Research approaches
• Evaluation based on active involvement• Evaluation based on participation• Evaluation based on initiative• Compilation of different research approaches based on a
project's specific aims
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• Combining qualitative and quantitative research
• Active participation in steering committee and working committee
meetings
• Distribution of questionnaires
• In-depth interviews with
• professionals
• activists
• project facilitators and other persons involved in the project
• participant observation
• Analysis of documentation
• Measurements of success
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
End products
• Interim and final reports
• Ongoing evaluation tailored to the project in general and the changing
needs at different stages
• Support and assistance in expanding the partnerships associated with
the project in the city
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• it is important to integrate and strengthen the weak and
underprivileged population.
• At the same time, a strong [primary?? broad??] population is needed to
ensure the city’s standard of living, which in turn contributes to the
strengthening of its weaker population.
• Nhu,r
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
• While each garden is unique, it was decided to create a “network of
community gardens” to multiply the effect and efficacy of the project.
• The objective was achieved: to promote community-based activities
that would contribute to the quality of life for all social strata, but
particularly youth, special needs populations, seniors, new immigrants
and educational institutions.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Integrating Seniors in Community Gardens
• This project integrates three core spheres
– the elderly population, but what about youth, education etc… referred
to on slide #19??
– community
– communal gardens.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Findings
Our research found that each of the participating organizations developed different models for integrating the elderly in community gardens and “green” activities. In all, seven different models were developed to suit the different needs of each neighborhood and the elderly population within it:
1.Gardening group (East Talpiot, NETA team – Jerusalem Bird Observatory) – operates in the community garden, intended only for the elderly, with activities focused primarily on gardening and garden aesthetics. something not quite clear here – will discuss with you..
2.Home-based group (Lev Ha’ir Community Council, Ginot Ha’ir Community Council) – operates in a community center or within the home of one of the elderly participants, designed for a fixed group of seniors who meet regularly. Activities are social in nature and include emotional and spiritual support. Some of the home-based groups address “green” issues and have a connection with a nearby community garden.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
3. Series of meetings (Jerusalem Bird Observatory) – A fixed number of meetings intended
primarily for exploration and increasing participants’ awareness and knowledge relating
to environmental issues. These operate in senior citizen centers and retirement homes
and are designed for members or residents.
4. Community greenhouse (Lev Ha’ir Community Council) – Provides equipment and
plantings for various groups active in the neighborhood as well as a meeting place for
inter-generational activities. Includes gardening and social activities.
5. Gardening patrol (Lev Ha’ir Community Council) – Gardening and social activities for
young men and women in national service, in cooperation with the program for home
visits.
6. Activities related to the “Weekly Day of Action in the Community Garden” (Lev Ha’ir
Community Council, Ginot Ha’ir Community Council) – Gardening and social activities
that enable the elderly population to participate actively and independently in community
gardening.
7. Home visits (Lev Ha’ir Community Council, Ginot Ha’ir Community Council) – Designed
for housebound elderly, this is primarily a social and aesthetic activity. Both independent
senior citizens and youth take part in these activities.
Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
מוקדי הפעילות ומספר הקשישים שהשתתפו בפעילויות במסגרת קבוצתית בכל אחד מהאתרים )(לא כולל קשישים שהגיעו באופן עצמאי לפעילויות השבועית בגינות הקהילתיות
שילוב קשישים בגינות קהילתיות מחקרי הערכה מכון ירושלים לחקר ישראל