In majority of the countries today there are various programs for seniors created with the purpose of ensuring them enjoyable and active aging. However, most of them have in common the fact that they were created by people outside this age group. No matter the fact that their quality was never questionable, they just weren't accepted to the degree that was expected. The consequence being that a pretty large number of seniors is socially excluded, which became more than obvious during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Partners in the "Inactivity is not an option“ project believe that greater activity, intergenerational cooperation and social inclusion of seniors can only be stimulated by programs created with them being involved. Here one has to bear in mind that today's seniors belong to the so called "Baby Boom" generation and they have certain issues with key competences (EU, 2018) that prevent them from getting included and being active. For those reasons, this project is ruled by following objectives: - create and promote an innovative lifelong education system directed at seniors individuals as a framework for instigation of their activity; - develop quality innovative tools as an enticement to start creating programs for seniors, both individuals and groups (guidelines, programs, guides, ...); - contribute to proper understanding of the EU value system and possibility of senior activism; - promote the Erasmus+ program that makes provision for networking and brings along a transnational component as well as new notions and values for seniors; - encourage the volunteering system based on the axes senior educator – senior volunteer – user creator; - merge experience with energy through intergenerational cooperation for the well-being of individuals and society as a whole and encourage networking of high school volunteers in these activities. In order to meet the said objectives, this project offers four intellectual outputs: - O1: Guidelines for development of senior competences - O2: Development of the L – N – A system for seniors (L - Learn, N – Network, A – Act) in the form of a Guide through the system - O3: Curriculum for the training of trainers/teachers, seniors-educators and seniors volunteers in form of a program - O4: How to get results? In form of a Collection. Major target groups are seniors, teachers and trainers belonging to institutions for adult education and gerontology institutions and high school volunteer groups. Alongside them, target groups are also institutions for adult education in general, public institutions dealing with seniors, various volunteer groups and retirement associations. According to our predictions, 358 people belonging to partner organisations, associated partners and target groups will directly be involved through project activities. The activities they will be involved in are: five transnational project meetings (50), 5 pilot programs (50), 3 staff trainings (30), creation of four intellectual outputs (20) and 5 multiplier events (208). The expected impact of the project from its implementation, the results and after its completion is update of knowledge, encouraging of activity, social inclusion, intergenerational cooperation and adoption of European values with older generations. One of the most important assignments of the GER-APP project is creating connections with the future in order to ensure the sustainability of project results. As already explained, the GER-APP project is considered to be a significant step for encouragement of change: - in the way teachers and educators think when it comes down to the area of lifelong education of seniors - among seniors regarding the need for lifelong education, being active and getting involved, social inclusion, intergenerational cooperation and European values. With the purpose of maintaining the main results of the GER-APP project, two new work groups will be created among partners and associated partners that will continuously be monitoring exploitation of project results in both above mentioned segments. The work groups will monitor the exploitation of project results at least 2 years after project completion. Their activities during that period will be posted on project web page and Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
Project objectives are: - develop quality innovative tools as an incentive to initiate the creation of programs for senior individuals and groups (guidelines, programs, guides...) - contribute to a proper understanding of the EU's value system and the possibilities of senior activism - promote the Erasmus+ program, which enables networking and brings a transnational component and new knowledge and values to people of the third age - encourage a volunteering system based on the axis senior educator - senior volunteer - user - combine experience with energy through intergenerational cooperation for the benefit of individuals and society as a whole and encourage networking of high school volunteers in these activities.
In Europe, there is a trend of rapid aging of the population and the problem of their social exclusion. When older people retire, they face many problems. They question whether the society needs them anymore. They are faced with lower incomes, which cause deprivation in material, cultural, social and every other sense. And regardless of the fact that social inclusion is encouraged by various strategies, directives and regulations, i.e. from above, most of them slowly but surely take the path of disinterest and inactivity. It is precisely this trend of disinterest and inactivity that this project aims to significantly change, emphasizing the need to approach older people in an appropriate way, putting their desires and needs at the centre of activities, that is, to take a bottom-up approach. The wishes and needs of older people are expressed through equality and social cohesion, and active inclusion in social happenings can only be achieved through systematic training and networking.