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Digital wisdom

2025-1-ES02-KA152-YOU-0002970152025Mobility of young peopleongoing
Countries: ES|TR|MK|BA|PT|IT · Grant: €34,660
Digital skills and competencesBridging intercultural, intergenerational and social divideCommunity development

Objectives

In recent decades, Europe has been facing an ageing population and is seeing a growing exclusion of older people from participation in its society. According to Eurostat data, in 2022 more than one fifth (21.1%) of the EU population was over 65 years old. This demographic change in recent years is putting significant pressure on society, its healthcare systems, social security and especially on the resources available for the care and inclusion of older people, causing society to increasingly consider them as a "burden" and consequently exclude them. One of the main causes of exclusion from the "modern", increasingly accelerated and digital society is the lack of digital skills in older people. Possessing basic digital skills and knowledge, so-called "digital literacy", is increasingly indispensable to remain "active citizens" and have a say in society's affairs. EU data shows that only 1 in 4 people aged 65-74 have at least basic digital skills. Older people are thus deprived of their fundamental rights in our digital societies. Population ageing requires adaptation of society and services to ensure that older people are not excluded or isolated. To solve the problem of lack of digital literacy among older people, it is necessary to involve young people (who are the main connoisseurs and users of new technologies) as a means of connecting older people with modern digital society. In fact, according to UNECE research “Aging in the digital age” (July 2021) - if only one in four elderly Europeans (>65 years) has basic (or above basic) digital skills, there are three in four between 25 and 34 years old and four in five among young people (16-24) who do. Based on the above and based on the previous work developed with young people from the partner entities of each country that make up the YE, the following needs were detected: - Overcoming the digital gap between generations, training older people in the use of technology to facilitate their participation in today's society. - Valuing and highlighting the experience and knowledge accumulated by older people, recognizing their importance in society and generating spaces to share them. - Mitigating prejudices and xenophobia among older people towards external cultures, promoting understanding and respect for diversity. - Promote a more inclusive and shared European identity between different generations, highlighting similarities and common values between young people from different countries GENERAL OBJECTIVES: - Promote interaction between young people and older people, thus supporting intergenerational processes, actions and programmes. - Encourage intergenerational exchange of knowledge, raising awareness of intergenerational inclusion and the values-benefits they bring to society. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: - Facilitate a two-way exchange of knowledge and experiences between young people and older people, promoting mutual understanding and respect. - Empower older people in the use of technology and social media, enabling them to share their knowledge and life experiences with a wider audience. - Encourage the development of a collective awareness and a sense of belonging to Europe among older people by highlighting the similarities between local young people and those from other countries, thus reducing barriers and negative perceptions based on geographical origin. - To highlight the knowledge and experiences of older people, recognising their wisdom and skills so that they are appreciated and recognised by society. - To mitigate the growing xenophobia among older people towards other cultures and to foster a sense of European identity, showing the similarity between young people from different countries and promoting diversity as an enriching value. - To encourage the exchange of experiences between young people from different cultural backgrounds, favouring mutual understanding, respect for differences and the creation of positive links between different cultures. - To offer participants the opportunity to develop transversal skills, thus improving personal and social skills. - To encourage young people to actively participate in society, to raise their awareness of social, environmental and cultural issues and to inspire them to become active and responsible citizens.

Project partners (6)