Old Guys Say Yes to Community Erasmus Project

Project Title

Old Guys Say Yes to Community

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Gender equality / equal opportunities; Inclusion – equity; Access for disadvantaged

Project Summary

CONTEXT: The European Commission has identified active and healthy ageing as a major societal challenge common to all European countries, and an area which presents considerable potential for Europe to lead the world in providing innovative responses to this challenge. The participation of older men in learning and social activities in communities is low which affects their well-being and health. The willingness of older people to take part in organised education is linked to their level of education, previous occupation, gender and well-being. Men, especially less educated and socially deprived, are often not active in community associations and are also excluded from the educational activities. Besides, voluntary associations do not perceive their role as important actors in community learning of different age and gender groups. The “Old Guys Say Yes to Community” project deepened these perspectives with andragogic theory and practice.
OBJECTIVES: The “Old Guys Say Yes to Community” project aimed to foster the inclusion of men aged 60 years or more (especially with low education), in learning and education activities to positively affect their well-being, health, social life and to contribute to their re/up-skilling. PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS: A partnership of 6 organisations (4 universities, 2 community organisations) from 4 EU countries (Slovenia, Estonia, Poland and Portugal) developed and proposed new measures to enhance the learning dimension in community organisations which are not primarily concerned with education (NGOs, volunteer organisations and other associations). University teachers and students contributed strongly to this process, and therefore enhance partnerships between community providers and educational institutions on all levels. MAIN ACTIVITIES: 1) we analysed the needs, motivation and demand of men aged 60 years or more in selected communities regarding community activities and confronted them with existing possibilities in different communities; 2) analysed models of good practice on older men’s learning and socialising in different contexts and environments; 3) prepared precise and in-depth recommendations for local communities (and authorities), involving different organisations, providers of activities, local community facilitators, etc. in the sense of development of new social activities and community learning possibilities for older men; 4) developed and implemented an educational programme for community organisation workers who are interested and active in the learning and education of men aged 60 years or more on how to enhance the learning dimension in their organisations; 5) raised awareness of different stakeholders and providers of social and learning activities on the community level on their impact on community members, on the learning needs of older men and benefits from including them in the learning process; and 6) formed a user-friendly information and learning community portal for enhancing EU-wide cooperation of different actors and organisations on the community level and their acquaintance with learning and social needs of various groups of adults in communities in participating EU countries. RESULTS: 1) Different surveys have been conducted (qualitative research; interviews and focus groups; roundtables; analyses of good practices, etc.); 2) In-depth recommendations for community organisations and local authorities have been prepared for all partners countries as well as 3) a model for a training programme for educators and community workers has been developed (- educational curriculum for community workers – Blended Learning Training) to ensure the use of innovative practices and to achieve coordinated and diverse learning opportunities EU wide. This process was strongly supported with the use of 4) Open Educational Resources (OER) and other innovative teaching strategies. IMPACT: The project strongly influenced community organisations and their learning practices; raised the awareness of local authorities and policy makers of how they can support community organisations and benefit men aged 60 years or more, and their willingness to act more pro-actively. The project mobilised local community organisations with the know-how of what men aged 60 years or more need and desire; stimulated local community organisations who offer activities and education to older men to start collaborating with each other nationally and across borders; mobilised older men to start participating in activities offered to them by these organisations or to participate more frequently which positively impacts their health and quality of life. LONGER-TERM BENEFITS: raised awareness at local NGOs, at local and national authorities – policy makers; at media on different levels of their work (local, national, EU); transferred knowledge and experiences in active ageing in later life across Europe among professionals in adult education, students and civil society.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 183003 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI & Country: SI

Project Partners

• UNIWERSYTET WROCLAWSKI
• EESTI TAISKASVANUTE KOOLITAJATE ASSOTSIATSIOON ANDRAS
• TALLINN UNIVERSITY
• Slovenian Adult Education Association
• UNIVERSIDADE DO ALGARVE