In order to increase the lifelong learning opportunities for seniors in the five European countries Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Sweden and Italy, the project consortium aimed at two target groups with following main objectives: Firstly, to equip adult education providers and trainers with a set of resources on how to develop a common European identity, key competences, sustainable thinking and awareness of cultural heritage in senior citizens by making use of their true-to life experiences and cultural heritage knowledge on nutrition, health, housekeeping, self-determined consumer behaviour and environmental behaviour. Secondly, to empower seniors through non-formal learning opportunities and European exchanges enabling them to gain more key competences and new insights as regards to European identity. Many of these skills are necessary for living together in a democratic and diverse Europe, such as social and intercultural skills, critical thinking and media skills. By improving skills and building relationships, the senior participants in the SPACE project contributed to strengthen the European cohesion.
The SPACE project idea was to strengthen the participation and inclusion of seniors aged 60+ in societal life by creating education opportunities and exchanges of experience that foster a stronger European identity. Despite the principle of lifelong learning, seniors often face fewer chances to engage in European initiatives like Erasmus+ compared to younger generations. This limits their ability to develop key competences and contribute actively to European society – a relevant fact to be considered in an ageing society. By addressing this gap through promoting lifelong learning and empowering older citizens to actively develop their key competences, in particular personal, social and learning to learn competences, the project activities aimed to build links between seniors in five countries across Europe - with the active involvement of senior learners as a crucial element to benefit from the expertise of peers from other countries. Focusing on life skills topics like nutrition, health, housekeeping, self-determined consumer behaviour and environmental behaviour offered a low-threshold access for everyone.