The goals we had in mind were to deliver high-quality, original, and stimulating adult education activities for people in the third stage of life. We also aimed to develop a generic tool for professionals who work with older adults or provide adult education, enabling them to easily design activities that foster future awareness and future-oriented thinking. Based on the experiences and outcomes of this project, we wanted to communicate the importance of future awareness in later life—both to older adults and to professionals. Ultimately, our goal is to reach a broader group of older people and offer them a positive and inspiring experience that helps them reflect on and engage with their future.
We applied for this project because we had identified a growing need to better understand and support people entering the second half of life. As individuals live and participate longer, their search for meaning and engagement had changed. Existing offers for seniors often focuse on leisure but fail to address deeper needs for purpose and contribution. In our work as training and coaching organisations, we had little insight into what post-war generations (baby boomers and Gen X) really want or how they experience ageing. Through this project, we aimed to break taboos and use personal stories to explore ageing as a phase full of potential. Futures Literacy was applied to help participants imagine alternative futures for ageing and see it as a period of renewal and social contribution. The project sought to strengthen and diversify existing community initiatives through co-creation and collaboration at local and European levels. This small-scale partnership allowed us to test new methods, share learning internationally, and promote a more inclusive, forward-looking view on ageing.