Pr. Sana Benbelli -  Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca (Morocco)

Rethinking Aging Studies in Morocco: Towards a Situated, Non-Extractive Epistemology of Care
Dr. Mone Spindler -  University of Tübingen , Tübingen (Germany)
Reviving critical gerontology: A transdisciplinary intergenerational experiment on elderly care in Germany 
PhD. Essilina Fuel -  Eduardo Mondlane University , Maputo (Mozambic)
Reimagining aging in Mozambique: care, dignity and public health.
Lecturer Samantha Barkley -  University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa)
Reimagining Informal Older Persons’ Care in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Aging is often referred to as a societal challenge to be tackled. Historically, aging research and related concepts for dealing with aging have been dominated by the United States and Europe. In the Global South, postcolonial legacies, structural economic inequalities, and specific forms of family-based solidarity shape how old age is lived, perceived, and cared for—often in contrast to dominant Northern models. The participation of the Global South in aging research has increased over the past decades. 

However, African-European collaboration is needed to explore the complexities of the discourses, political-economic structures and experiences of aging in these different contexts in order to open possibilities of livable, positive futures of aging. In our panel discussion we bring together researchers from different academic disciplines (biology, public health, law, sociology, ethics) dealing with aging from Morocco, South Africa, Mozambique and Germany with stakeholders (municipal officials, community leaders,care givers and social workers) from Casablanca. 

As a starting point for our collaboration in ageing research and education we discuss informal elderly care in familial settings. We invite the stakeholders to bring a concrete case from their everyday practice (e.g. a story, a concept, a problem) which they want to explore with us. The panel offers room for critical, cross-cultural reflection and empowerment. 
Building upon post- colonial perspectives on ageing we discuss the questions mentioned below and thereby raise cross- cutting issues of social inequality, gender and migration. In addition to the panel discussion we are aiming to do a study visit, in which we visit one/two NGOs in Casablanca who work in the field of informal elderly care. We learn about their activities and perspectives and discuss in order to facilitate mutual learning, empowerment and network building.