By implementing the BOOMER project, we aimed to promote equity and inclusion for low-qualified adults, aligning with the Erasmus+ priority. Our goal was to bridge the intergenerational digital divide and enhance social inclusion for seniors, addressing the digital skills gap highlighted in key EU initiatives like the Upskilling Pathways and the New Skills Agenda for Europe. BOOMER also aligned with national priorities in Croatia, supporting strategies like "New Colours of Knowledge" and e-Croatia 2020, which emphasize digital education for vulnerable groups. We sought to empower seniors by providing tailored digital learning opportunities based on skills assessments, creating open educational resources, and validating content directly with target users. Ultimately, we aimed to reduce digital isolation among seniors, enhance their participation in everyday life, and foster a more inclusive society by equipping them with essential digital skills. By doing so, BOOMER intended to ensure that seniors could actively engage with digital technologies, promoting their social and digital inclusion and bridging the gap between generations across Europe.
We applied for the BOOMER project to address the urgent need for social inclusion of seniors, a critical EU priority due to negative demographic trends and the rapid integration of digital technologies into everyday life. Seniors are among the most vulnerable groups, especially highlighted during COVID-19, where digital isolation became a severe issue. Many seniors lack the digital skills necessary for essential activities like online shopping, banking, and accessing health information, making them susceptible to cyber-threats like fake news and financial crimes. BOOMER aims to bridge this digital divide by developing an intuitive platform tailored to seniors, providing practical training in key areas such as information literacy, communication, digital well-being, and cybersecurity. The project also fosters a dynamic learning space for educators to share and co-create best practices, ensuring the platform evolves and remains sustainable long after the funding period, with potential for broad application across Europe to address this critical gap.