"Women 55+ versus COVID-19. Exchange of good practices in supporting the development of personal and social competences and learning skills as well as increasing social inclusion of disadvantaged people" is a project implemented by 5 adult non-professional education organizations from countries: Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Turkey and Spain. It is based on the exchange of good practices between psychologists and art instructors from each participating organization. Knowledge, skills and attitudes of developing personal, social and learning competences are exchanged. Competences are also developed to increase the social inclusion of disadvantaged people. The above interactions are conducted by the psychologist + art instructor duo during 10 different - creative, artistic and psychological - workshops: - making jewelry from pearls, stones and other natural materials - making scented candles and simple cosmetics from natural ingredients - decoupage, painting on glass, decorating with torn paper - creative digital photography with the use of smartphones - creative writing: poetry - moodboard-based graphics - crocheting and knitting - carpet weaving - embroidering - macrame plaiting. The project involves 60 women aged 55+ with secondary or less education in the each partner organization, who, as a result of various factors related to the pandemic (e.g. reduction in employment, end of employment, increased emotional tensions in the family or work environment, etc.) experienced breakdown, powerlessness and / or helplessness. In the described group of participants, the primary area requiring support is the development of personal cross-sectional competences (mainly in terms of identifying emotions and expressing them, as well as strengthening the mental structure and the potential to cope with difficulties). The secondary need of the above-mentioned group is the development of social and learning skills. The above-mentioned project activities are complemented by the educational mobility of participants, led by the slogan of European values. In addition to classes for participants, the project also includes training for educators conducting the classes. First as part of the mobility, and then once a month on-line. Also important in the project are the implementation and dissemination activities both between partners and outside the participating organizations. The goals of the project are: - carrying out the above-mentioned classes in the above-mentioned target group and exchange of good practices between partners in these fields - mobility of trainers and project participants - testing the effectiveness of these activities - making a publication containing: program, scenarios and methodological guidelines as well as a discussion of selected cases - "Program for the development of personal, social and learning skills in adult women using creative, artistic and psychological activities" - thanks to cooperation as well as joint training programs of trainers, etc. the staff in our organizations will be prepared for implementation (and permanent implementation) to the offer of our organizations classes according to the above-mentioned program - disseminating the program outside the partnership, with particular emphasis on its pilot implementation in min. 1 cultural institution from the environment of each organization (staff training and support in implementation). The following results are expected at the end of the project: - permanent and noticeable increase in the above-mentioned cross-sectional competences of min. 85% of participants in each partner organization - permanent and noticeable increase in social inclusion of min. 95% of participants in each partner organization - increasing awareness of European values: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rights of people belonging to minorities of 85% of the project participants - development of professional competences of 4 psychologists and 4 art instructors in each organization (trainers participating in the project) - each partner organization, after the end of the project, will implement in its educational offer min. 4 workshops (2 previous ones plus at least 2 selected from those conducted by partner organizations) - transfer of knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired during the project, min. 2 more psychologists and min. 2 more art instructors - publication of the above-mentioned "Program ..." in 5 native languages and in English - material results from classes - min. 120 works of art in each organization - increasing the English language skills of participants, educators, members of project management teams - training of adult education staff (at least 1 cultural institution from the environment of each partner organization) to implement the program with at least 1 workshop. Then, supervision and support in the implementation of the program in this institution - a series of events disseminating the results of the project - exhibitions etc
Our main goal was to create an innovative project using 10 different workshops using creativity and art, co-led by an art instructor and a psychologist. The implementation of the project was to bring specific help to women over 55 years of age who suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The project was aimed at: - conducting classes from 10 different workshops in the target group of women 55+ and exchange of good practices between partners in this area - carrying out the mobility of staff and project participants - testing the effectiveness of these activities - development of a publication collecting the programme, scenarios and methodological guidelines - thanks to cooperation, joint training programs for trainers, etc. - preparation of staff in our organizations for implementation and permanent implementation to the offer of our organizations classes according to the program - dissemination of the program outside the partnership with particular emphasis on its pilot implementation in min. 1 cultural institution from each organization's environment (this will include staff training and implementation support)
During the C-19 pandemic, the societies of individual countries experienced tension, stress, and a sense of powerlessness even more intensively than before. The attention of our organizations was drawn to the fact that among the recipients of our statutory activities in the field of adult education, there were many people looking for classes in the educational offer that would strengthen their mental condition and help them find themselves in the new (post-)pandemic reality. The partnership conducted an on-line study that verified the common hypothesis that due to unforeseen, difficult situations that occurred in the first wave of the pandemic, women aged 55+ with secondary or lower education were the group that needed support, and the area requiring support was the development of competences cross-cutting personal. The test results confirmed the hypothesis. The study also showed that the development of social and learning to learn competences is a secondary need.