What is the Growing Older is Done Together project about?
With Growing Older is Done Together, SKIN-Rotterdam supports elderly people and future elderly people within international communities in Rotterdam. We help people to prepare well for growing old in the Netherlands and to stay connected with each other and their environment.

Why this approach?
The number of elderly people is growing within many international churches. At the same time, we see that issues such as care, loneliness, and aging are experienced differently than in the Dutch context. Formal care and welfare organizations often find it difficult to reach these groups. We build bridges from our network of international churches: by sharing knowledge, organizing discussions, and connecting people.

What we will do in 2026:
In 2026, we will organize workshops and practical meetings at care locations and tours/discussion rounds in the city about growing old in the Netherlands. These activities will focus on themes such as care, housing, meaning, and growing old together. Where possible, we will do this in collaboration with welfare and care organizations, so that different networks reinforce each other and people can more easily find their way to appropriate support. For more information, please contact Cees Ramp, cees@skinrotterdam.nl.

We also train Future Ambassadors: committed individuals from the communities themselves who initiate discussions about aging. Using a practical and personal approach, they facilitate small groups and informal meetings. This creates awareness, mutual support, and greater reach within and outside the communities. For more information, please contact Bisola Olusanya, bisola@skinrotterdam.nl.

With Growing Older is Done Together, we work to increase knowledge, connection, and preparation so that people do not have to go through this phase of life alone, but together.

How we do this:

  • Workshops and practical meetings at care locations
  • Discussion rounds/tours about growing old
  • Training and guiding Future Ambassadors
  • Informal group meetings by Future Ambassadors around the communities

→ Check out our activities page for an overview of our current meetings!

The Growing Older is Done Together project is made possible by Gemeente Rotterdam, Sint Laurensfonds, Sluyterman van Loo, Van Leeuwen van Lignac Stichting and Even Anders.