The overall aim of the project was to strengthen the european identity and active citizenship of adults, giving them the competences to create social cohesion. Our operational goal became to design for adult educators and adult learners an interesting in content and form, encouraging educational offer, which can be applied in all areas of education - formal education, non-formal education and informal learning, taking into account the scientific (psychological and pedagogical) basis of the methodology of working with adults. We aimed to develop a resource on offer that any adult educator and institution can flexibly use as a small or larger part of an educational formula activity in an organisation or institution, creating a short or long competence course on counteracting stereotypes and discrimination by and among adults. The aim of the project's implementation was also to support the professionalization of educators in the competence of program development, related to counteracting gender and age stereotypes, and thus increase the quality of education, based on critical thinking of adults.
Although respect for human rights has been declared in Europe since the 1960s, violations of the rights of specific groups continue. Gender and age are still strongly stereotyping characteristics (Eurobarometer 2019, Gender Equality Index 2023). 8.8 million working people in EU countries (mainly women by gender) were victims of discrimination in the workplace (Eurostat 2021). The response to this situation is the implementation of anti-discrimination educational programmes. The majority of such initiatives in the EU target children and youth, with sporadic provision of materials and activities offered adult educators and adult learners (in formal and non-formal education). The EASY project was directed at meeting the educational needs of this group, as reported by its members themselves (pre-submission surveys and focus group research during implementation). Educators pointed out the lack of, and in the project we assumed the development of ‘flexible’ and universal approaches in anti-discrimination education, materials and tools that are dedicated to adults. This is because their life in a globalised world requires cooperation across age, gender and geographical differences. And this is a society-wide need, linked to cohesion.