European communities are getting old. According to EUROSTAT data, in 2018 approximately 19% of EU citizens were at least 65 years old. By 2100, the percentage of 80+ year-olds, will have increased by over two times and will have reached 14,6% of the global population, thus increasing the total age dependency ratio from 54,6% in 2018 to 82,9% in 2100. In response to this forecast, we would like to act for the benefit of this social group. The project ‘EU – “Re” Creation – developing competences of seniors" is dedicated to developing cooperation and exchanging experiences of educators working with persons at risk of marginalization due to age, health condition, and limited physical or mental performance. This partnership involves 6 organizations from 5 European countries: Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Austria and 2 organizations from Poland. The project aims at raising qualifications of educators working with the elderly (60, 70, 80+); acquiring new or improving one’s psychological, interpersonal or methodological skills necessary while working with seniors; promoting the work methods among staff working with people at risk of marginalization participating in this project. The project takes a complex approach towards the seniors’ needs. The target group will be constituted by educators working with persons at risk of marginalization due to age and limited performance as well as seniors – participants of the classes. These groups will be participants of the workshops and work method presentations. In the project, we are planning to use methods supporting intellectual, creative, physical or social activation of the elderly: art therapy activities with the use of theatre or art techniques, music therapy, broadening the knowledge and skills in the fields of IT and communication technologies, net and Internet security, recreational and sports activities, as well as use of biographical methods of work. Around 600 people will take part in the project. The planned results will include: building greater professional competences of the educators and other staff working with seniors; raising self-esteem of the educators participating in the project; gaining motivation and inspiration to work with elderly people, promoting knowledge among the elderly about active aging activities and opportunities for life-long learning.
The main aim of the project was to raise the qualifications of educators working with older people (60, 70, 80+); to acquire new or improve existing psychological, interpersonal and methodological skills necessary for working with seniors; to disseminate methods of working with people at risk of marginalisation due to age among staff working in partner institutions; and to increase the opportunities for personal development of educators participating in the project. An indirect objective of the project was also to promote non-formal education addressed to seniors as one of the elements that can counteract their social exclusion.
Due to the ageing of European societies, it is necessary to combat the social exclusion of older people. One of the effective methods of combating age-related social exclusion is non-formal education. It requires, however, that the educators leading the activities for seniors are well prepared for this role, that they are competent in this field, that they are familiar with various methods and techniques of conducting such activities, and that they know how to make them attractive to seniors. An international exchange of knowledge and experience between institutions providing senior education can contribute to the faster and more effective development of the staff of these institutions.