Active longevity is no longer a utopia in Northern Europe. In Rotterdam, public policies and private initiatives intertwine to encourage healthy aging through a constantly expanding range of intergenerational activities.
Families are discovering new spaces where seniors and children share workshops, walks, or cultural discoveries. The benefits of these practices go beyond mere entertainment, strengthening social ties and promoting flourishing at all ages.
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Annabel Fam, an inspiring journey to rethink happy aging
Annabel Fam, daughter of Nagui and Marine Vignes, has charted a unique path across several continents, with a fierce determination to weave new connections wherever she goes. Her childhood navigated between Paris, Quebec, and Ottawa, before taking her to the University of Toronto. This shifting geography has shaped in her a vision of transmission that defies borders and prioritizes openness, two driving forces behind her current commitment in Brittany.
At the helm of HOLDING FAM, she emphasizes the test & learn method, the boldness of experimentation, and a transparency that energizes structures. The culture of sharing, inclusion, and the belief that social innovation can transform everything are her guiding principles. Annabel Fam is also involved in key networks such as She’s Mercedes France and the Awa Prize, where she is reshaping the landscape of female leadership and diversity.
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Her ability to bring people together is dedicated to a vision where every life journey matters and where aging models are reinvented. She focuses on mentorship, female professional support, and the recognition of each individual experience. To understand the scope of her actions, a detour to Annabel Fam’s journey on Bretagne Net is essential: it reveals the depth of her commitments, the impact of her achievements, and the growing influence she wields in Brittany.
How to cultivate well-being at any age: advice and experiences shared by Annabel Fam
What sets Annabel Fam apart is her way of blending diversity of experiences and sharing of expertise. Trained in both social sciences and visual arts and music, she refuses to be boxed in. Her multidisciplinary path enriches her interventions, where mentorship becomes a driving force for progress for all.
In her commitments, mentorship and female professional networks are pillars. Annabel Fam does not theorize solidarity; she makes it tangible: creating spaces for exchange, multiplying opportunities for transmission, encouraging autonomy and confidence at every stage of life. The passing on of knowledge, a common thread in her projects, stimulates the birth of vocations and ensures the continuity of local initiatives.
Her practice, inspired by test & learn, highlights experimentation and adjustment. Annabel Fam invites investment in the collective, relying on the unique strengths of each individual. One figure speaks for itself: nearly 90% of the income generated by women entrepreneurs is reinvested in their surroundings and the community, a concrete proof of the social dimension of her convictions.
Here are the levers that fuel her daily commitment:
- Valuing individual journeys
- Intergenerational transmission
- Inclusion and diversity as engines of renewal
For Annabel Fam, well-being is built by bringing people together, opening spaces for expression and action, and weaving lasting connections, so that each generation can thrive in its own way.
Original activities in Rotterdam for seniors and families seeking precious moments
In Rotterdam, the quest for precious moments for seniors and families mobilizes a mosaic of actors, all driven by the desire to strengthen social ties and transmission between generations. Initiatives are multiplying, open to the diversity of audiences and the richness of cross-experiences.
The Awa Prize, supported by Belgian development cooperation and BIO, embodies this momentum. Bringing together 80 entrepreneurs from 16 countries, this event focuses on professional coaching, networking, and targets various territories, from Morocco to Rwanda, from Benin to Palestine, and all the way to Mauritius. This international openness infuses new practices, encourages the circulation of ideas, and inspires models of female success. In Rotterdam, this energy translates concretely into the creation of tailored activity paths designed to stimulate the autonomy of seniors while inviting families to participate.
Here are some examples of key initiatives that structure this movement:
- Intergenerational workshops: discovering know-how, cooking, digital skills
- Shared cultural spaces: exhibitions, concerts, artistic encounters
- Professional meetings around female entrepreneurship
Research conducted at the IAE of the University of Tours and at SKEMA Business School confirms the impact of these initiatives on social cohesion. One observation is clear: in sub-Saharan Africa as well as in Europe, women play a decisive role in the local economy. One in three businesses worldwide is led by a woman, and the majority of self-employed workers in sub-Saharan Africa are women. In Rotterdam, the strength of the associative fabric and the involvement of female networks shape a daily life where each generation finds a place to express itself and transmit.