Understanding the dynamic of the assistance brought to the seniors’ associations in Côte d’Ivoire concerning socio-cultural activities: the case of the organizations affiliated to the department of leisure

Abstract

Abstract Owing to longevity, elderly peoples’ caring needs have increased in Africa.  In fact, ageing well implies many conditions.  These conditions consist in maintaining a satisfactory degree of autonomy, controlling and responsibility for events, having good capacities of adaptation, maintaining quality affective relationships, remain engaged in society, having sufficient incomes and giving meaning to one’s life (De Ladoucette, 2011). To date in Côte d'Ivoire,   these conditions are not yet met. Seniors are still struggling to meet many challenges such as the management of their spare time and leisure activities. In order to cope with this situation, many seniors’ associations have been created. They cooperate with the Department of Leisure which helps them implement their action plan. The support of the Department of Leisure is in line with its logic of using socio-cultural activities based on the pedagogy of leisure (Nahrstedt, 1990, p.11). This paper is based on a qualitative approach. In this respect we have carried out a semi structured interview with eighteen seniors from four associations and also three key persons from Department of Leisure. This             article aims at showing the impact of the pedagogy of accompaniment implemented by the Department of Leisure on seniors’ associations from 2013 to 2019. This survey shows clearly that the great majority of the interviewed seniors’ associations are now able to undertake their own socio-cultural and leisure activities.