A discussion during the Bremen meeting of the Strategic Youth Partnership done by Uniamoci Onlus, Palermo, and Diakonischen Werk Bremen in the European Union Erasmus+ program, put a focus on the questions how neighbors might support each other with healthy living. A first question was: What do you wish that your neighbor might do (or not do) to support your healthy living and – second question – what are you prepared to do yourself for this purpose of the people living next to you?

The results showed in a vast majority of issues related to noise and noisy behavior, especially during night and free time. Whether it was a question of TV, night-long guitar playing or high heels clacs in the flat above of your head and machinery for garden works – here are many causes for neighborhood complaints but on the other hand many points where a good neighborhood might start with some attentiveness to other people’s health. Difference between age groups, way of living or a German / Italian “mentalities” were not important points in this issue. A general good communication between people living in neighborhood was another great wish that nearly all participants shared. Probably many people who see their neighbors engage in sport activities in the quarter or around the place of living would like to be asked or invited to join and would probably be prepared to share efforts and be helpful – but some indeed doubt if their neighbors would be prepared to “accept help”. At this point, we see an important issue in relation to the post box: Many people are uneager about a post box overflowing with letters and advertisement papers when they are away from home. It was mentioned that such uneasiness might even risk the healthy success of holidays, rehabilitation or care stays – and this is not an issue of “elder people” but obviously shared by all generations and mentalities, as our discussed showed. So, good neighbors might indeed promote the health of each other when giving each other reliable assurance at this point.

Jürgen Stein