A contemporary reflection
Life expectancy has been considerably lengthened. People live longer so they can also contribute more to society, as long as certain principles and rights are guaranteed for them, such as independence, participation, assistance, self-realization and dignity. (http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/iyop/esiyoppo.htm.)

In our day, people of differing ages, grandparents and grandchildren, relate to each other less and less, because the functions of the family have taken over by several other specialized institutions for these extreme age-groups. While seniors are placed on the margin of social and family life, young people are failing to prepare for a social situation in the future in which the proportions between young people and seniors will tend to be inverted.

Intergenerational programs such as Oldnet allow the ends of the age spectrum to come closer to share knowledge and exchange experiences. This interaction becomes an important resource for social development in countries with growing senior populations, by motivating community support for older people, guaranteeing access to new technologies and facilitating integration of seniors with society, to develop potential and promote the respectful and fair treatment they deserve.

Rather than offering to help seniors cross streets, digital access allows them to cross borders and oceans, reducing isolation, triggering discoveries and spaces for interaction.