Danube networkers- DANET is an association based in Ulm in the German land Baden-Württemberg.  It was founded by a small number of non-governmental organisations from the Danube region whose members wanted to continue their already long collaboration within a more stable institutionalised structure. Basically, the association was founded to strengthen older people’s social participation, social cohesion, international and intergenerational dialogue in this European entity. Moreover, DANET has always been deeply concerned with education for bettering cooperation in European Union.

A partner meeting focused on the value and future of Europe

Common Europe and its survival have become the explicit goal of these organisations and their meeting since DANET networkers are becoming increasingly more aware that Europe is not granted. This makes them distinctively and reflectively conscious that Europe is not a project anymore. On the contrary, it has become a reality and that “this wonderful place to live” (Jacques Delors) needs to be protected whatever the cost. “We have become aware that Europe is not immortal (Emanuel Macron, 2024).”, so it needs to be actively and reflectively supported by its inhabitants and citizens. 

In the past the European Union has been facing peaceful but also turbulent times marked by financial, sanitary, economic, and political crises. Each time Europe experienced change, and each time it came back to a new kind of normality (Slavoj Žižek, 2008).  If this time Europe resisted change, it would be at risk of becoming an obsolete model degrading the position and diminishing the force of European states and its constituents. Civil society organisations have the power and knowledge to contribute to the changing of Europe.

The European Union is founded on the values of peace, human rights, the rule of law and democracy but it also embodies the idea of civilisation Danubian civil organisations are attached to and want to preserve. 

Learning from each other

Danube networkers introduced each other to the nature, objectives and results of their European/national/ regional projects supporting older people to become givers and Ukrainian migrants to get integrated into European societies. Many civil society projects are devoted to the cultural roots, cultural heritage, tourism and identity of Europe. 

To illustrate this point,The Danube Guides https://danube-guides.net/ accompany the Danube through 10 countries telling the river's story. They take you to the nature, historical sites but also to villages, making you familiar with biological species, culinary pecularities etc.

A session of posters and a photo exhibition “Traces of Europe in my country” slso took place during the meeting.

What makes a woman powerful 

In the workshop on women there was an interesting dialogue going on, staging “women who have had the power to become what they could become (socially engaged women participating in public affairs); are women courageous enough to defend their values; women who are trying to change themselves and the world.”  Mother Centers International Network for Empowerment https://www.facebook.com/mothercenters for instance, is a network of centres, a network of women who “can create democracy from bottom up" said Vaclav Havel. There are currently more than 1000 mothers’ centres in 20 countries  striving to introduce the culture of caring for individuals and communities into international policies and practice. Mothers' centres have recently created public living spaces.

I am happy because I am useful.

Vima Danube EU organises Internet chat rooms on countries and travel, literature, art and culture, social society and assistance in everyday life, etc. It offers practical information. VIMA Danube EU is a multifunctional virtual platform powered by Ileu.

See-U coordinated by Austrian queraum addresses several issues: older people’s cultural identity, local identity and digital skills. The project was presented in the poster session postulating that older people exist in their own eyes and the eyes of society when they work hard for common benefit. “Are you happy was asked an older volunteer working in a Ukrainian institution. “Yes, I am happy” she responded. “Why?” “Because I am useful,” she explained. A lesson to remember! Older people are often pushed to the edge of society as frail and in need of help. If mentalities and policies changed they could become happy givers, those who help others. As simple as that!!

Conclusion

There were not many keynote lectures in this meeting rather they were replaced by numerous contacts and exchanges. Anyway, adult educators know that discussing is probably the most fruitful way of learning.

Dr. Dušana Findeisen

Now Head of the Institute for Research and Development of education within Slovenian Third Age University, Dušana Findeisen has been dealing with education of older people, education about older people, and education for local development in former Yugoslavia, Slovenia and in many European countries since 1984. In 1986 she co/established Slovenian Third Age University of which she was President for 15 years. She (co)- introduced a great number of nation wide scientifically grounded innovations (a national network of older people acting as cultural mediators in public institutions, education for trainers in the field of education for later life, education for local development, etc.) For five years she was an AGE PLATFORM EUROPE expert in employment and education. At the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Philosophy she taught Socio-cultural animation and education for local development and other courses. She authored, co-authored more than 300 scientific and professional articles and she published five monographs.