A “living library” project in Malaysia’s capital is lending out older people’s knowledge to the young, to improve the lives of pensioners and bridge Kuala Lumpur’s generation gap. The project links groups of students with retirement homes so older people can share the challenges they face living in the city. It is run by the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, an international network of young professionals from business, academia and civil society, seeking to make a positive impact in local communities. In addition to sharing their life stories, the elderly participants also discuss safety issues in Kuala Lumpur, such as how long pedestrians get to cross roads and uneven pavements. The young people draw on these chats at workshops where they discuss potential solutions to these problems. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned in 2017 that the rapidly growing number of elderly people in Asia’s economies is set to create a demographic “tax” on growth.

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