The overall aim was to make a positive contribution to combating ageism and to make the topic more visible and easier to discuss in public and in interested circles. The current invisibility of the topic makes it difficult to find suitable starting points to combat ageism. In many areas of anti-discrimination work, great progress has been made in recent years and much has been achieved in terms of sensitisation. Above all, stereotypes need to be made visible and recognised. The idea was to achieve this by creating attractive and easily accessible learning material. On the one hand, the idea was to make those affected by ageism more visible and to provide them with learning opportunities to deal with the topic and, on the other hand, to reach a wider public. The aim of the project was therefore to offer various learning materials that can be used by different groups and in different contexts. We also wanted to create a suitable digital learning offer that is easily accessible and can also be used with limited time resources. The aim here was to reach and sensitise professionals. To achieve this, existing experience with gamification was to be utilised and further developed.
The partner organisations were already working on the topics of anti-discrimination, intersectionality, health and age before the project. The partners have different focal points, but agreed that ageism is a very pressing and central problem that is nevertheless rarely addressed and thematised by society. Ageism is widespread due to the lack of discussion and awareness of existing stereotypes and is little reflected upon. Ageist behaviour has concrete effects on those affected, increasing stress, the risk of cardiovascular disease and lowering self-esteem. The aim of the project was to develop an educational offer that makes the topic of ageism more visible and addressable and offers counter-strategies. In addition to the general public, professionals from social or medical professions should also be addressed, as they are in contact with older people in particularly vulnerable situations. In this context, the perspectives of people affected by ageism should be integrated into the learning programmes and a low-threshold offer should be created using digital methods. During the project, it was confirmed how great the perceived need for material and exchange on the topic of ageism currently is.