The aim of the project is to refine, improve, test and implement the Silver Sharing Initiative (ISS) - an innovative method of informal education of the elderly, aimed at increasing the participation of people in difficult age-related situations in the process of learning throughout life. The project activities are focused on the development of cross-cutting skills of seniors – i.e. linguistic and digital literacy, which will result in the social integration and civic participation of the elderly. The project will contribute to the growth of competences and skills of educators of adults, including the use of new technologies that will increase effectiveness of the education. The project comes up with systemic activities for seniors and aims at initiation of long-term pursuit of transnational cooperation. The partnership includes representatives of three sectors, engaged in adult education in different forms and areas: social- (FOSa Federation, Poland), public- (Municipality Gulbene, Latvia) and business-like (Procedo Consulting Ltd., Croatia). The three-sector partnership creates synergies between policy and practice, which takes advantage of the different experiences and special knowledge of the partners well-aware of the possibilities, but also the limits and nature of work for the elderly in their environment. This diversity provides for the development of the project results of high quality. The working methods of partner organizations in the field of adult education, which shall enrich the Silver Sharing Initiative, will certainly constitute the added value. The results of intellectual labor (Silver Sharing methodology), developed within the project framework, will be widespread and generally accessible as open educational resources, so that not only the partners, but the whole community of the EU can benefit. ISS assumes the elderly take up educational, social and tourist activity. It is based on a collaboration of two (or more) seniors’ organizations from different regions / countries. Each organization delegates a specific group of people who pay a visit and revisit in the country or region of the partner organization, where they enjoy the hospitality of the members of the organization, staying at their homes or hotels, jointly exploring the area by participating in the proposed cultural programs. Education is thus of multi-layered dimension, as it covers cultural issues, foreign languages, ICT and others. This leads to openness, motivates to change, learn, travel far and build social bonds. International educational and social activity of the elderly is possible due to their mobility, which requires overcoming many barriers. ISS encourages the mobility, broadening the horizons, taking up the effort to change. ISS is therefore to enable older people to take up active lifestyle, motivate the mobility resulting in education, especially intercultural and language ones. The project could not be implemented without transnational cooperation, which represents the core of the educational activity of the elderly in the context of ISS. The recipients of the project include seniors, employees, co-workers, volunteers, members of partner organizations, people involved in comprehensive education of the elderly, including trainers, experts, instructors, teachers, workshop leaders, training, courses, activities etc. The project will be attended by 30 seniors and 12 educators of the elderly in Poland, Latvia and Croatia. The project activities will include: - International School of Social Animators of the Elderly which will prepare staff working with seniors to provide their education and support in preparation for the international educational trips, notably through the use of ICT. The effective and responsible work with seniors requires proper approach and properly selected pedagogical methods. Therefore, the animators will be equipped with the most important elements of gerontology to learn of their needs and the specifics of working with the elderly; - Testing the Silver Sharing Initiative - six 5-day trips, set for an average of 5 individuals each, between the partners (visit paid into each partner’s country and then the revisit) preceded by multicultural, linguistic and ICT education of the seniors by trained animators. The seniors, in cooperation with the elderly from other countries, will prepare events of culture and traditions of the countries of the participants (e.g. music, literature, cooking, local customs and traditions, etc.). - Establishment of a group of experts composed of representatives of the partners that will carry out self-evaluation based upon model qualitative research to determine the value of the activities carried out under the project. It will help to improve the very method by proposing new solutions based on the experience of the partners and the recommendations of the test-trip participants; - An international conference held to disseminate project outcome.
The Silver Sharing Initiative was implemented under the Erasmus Program. It was in the period of 1.09.2015-31.08.2017. The aim of the project was to refine and refine, and to test and implement the Silver Sharing Initiative (ISS), an innovative method of informal education for older people, aimed at increasing the participation of disadvantaged people in lifelong learning. The activities of the project were focused on developing transversal skills of participants - language competences and digital skills, resulting in social inclusion and active citizenship of the elderly. The project has also contributed to the growth of competences and skills of adult educators, including the use of new technologies, which has resulted in increased learning effectiveness. Leader: Federation of Social Organizations of the Province of Warmia and Mazury "FOSA" (non-governmental organization) Partner: Gulbenes novada dome (local authorities) Partner: Consultation procedure ltd (private entrepreneur) Within the project: - We organized a series of Animator Schools / Senior Social Educators for 13 people (5 from Poland, 4 from Latvia and 4 from Croatia) - We have organized a cycle of seniors education in each of the three participating countries (English language, cultural, ICT) for a minimum of 30 hours per group. - four international meetings were held (in Croatia, in Poland x2, in Latvia) - We have developed research tools within the project and conducted research - Guide to the Silver Sharing Initiative - we organized a two-day international dissemination conference SS method - we organized 6 seniors mobility (Poland - Latvia, Latvia - Poland, Croatia - Poland, Poland - Croatia, Croatia - Latvia, Latvia - Croatia) for 30 people (10 Poles, 10 Latvians, 10 Croats) Results: - there was 1 cycle of Animator School / Social Educators for the Elderly, lasting 15 days (5 days in Poland, 5 days in Croatia, 5 days in Latvia) - There was a minimum of 30 hours of classes in the seniors education cycle for each of the three participating countries - 4 international meetings took place - Guide to the Silver Sharing Initiative - there was 1 international dissemination conference SS method - 6 mobility took place, which lasted a total of 30 days Silver Sharing has increased the activity and education of adults. This initiative has enabled adults to travel to another country, which has become a contributor to language learning, using new technologies, computer use, and participation in multicultural activities. Trips made it possible to learn about another culture, history, and lifestyle of peers abroad, and to create new relationships that increased interpersonal skills, increased self-confidence, and opened up a different approach to life and motivation for education. Silver Sharing has also influenced the strengthening of senior organizations. They are more active now, they are developing. Through the project, educators have learned the methods and experiences of partners in new forms of learning and working with adults, which they use to systematically support senior organizations. Project partners have increased the effectiveness and quality of activities in the field of elder education, senior tourism, activation. The long-term benefits of the project development and development and testing and subsequent implementation of the Silver Sharing approach are reinforced and expanded so that it can be applied more fully by organizations working for and for the elderly. A significant effect is the strengthening and development of the Silver Sharing Initiative in the field of education, where the long-term benefit is also the fact that specific methods of educating seniors and those working with them have been developed.