EPALE discussion: social inclusion of the ageing population and intergenerational learning
The lifelong learning needs of older learners should be a priority for education providers who need to develop high quality and specific training programmes.
At the same time, intergenerational learning can contribute to social cohesion by promoting cooperation between different generations.
On Wednesday 28 October, starting from 10 a.m. CEST, EPALE will be hosting an online discussion on the social inclusion of the ageing population and intergenerational learning.
The discussion will include the following topics:
- What adult education policies and initiatives can support social inclusion of older learners?
- Has there been more attention to their situation in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic?
- What target groups have you been working with, and what would be your recommendations to ensure that adults continue to play an active role in society as they age?
We invite you to share your experiences and reflections during our online discussion, facilitated by EPALE Thematic coordinator Gina Ebner, Secretary-General of EAEA.
Comments will be open on 19 October so participants can introduce themselves and post their comments in advance.
Join our online discussion!
Коментари
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Basic education
Dear Susana, can you explain
At adult’s educational center
At adult’s educational center, which is called the People’s University of Velenje, we have a similar program. It's called social activation.
Through various activities, lectures, in-depth talks, counselling, connecting with different institutions, employers, we are trying to reinter individuals who are long-term unemployed, stigmatized and marginalized because of their life situations in the past.
Example of intergenerational link
50 years and retired?
Cilvēki ir dažādi. Dažiem 50+
Let older people participate on an equal footing
This is brilliant! Could you
Focus groups
Yes, this sounds great.
social inclusion of the ageing population and intergenerational
I run a number of English conversation courses at the Volkshochschule (adult education centre) In Bremen. My job is to ensure that participants are engaged in conversation. In the last 10 years I've learned that people are more than willing to talk about deeply personal experiences when the subject is broached creatively – e.g.in 2013 I created a lesson on smartpnohes. I introduced the topic by asking students to bring some favourite photographs to class. Older members brought in photo books and individual images while the younger people had their phones. The purpose was to talk about the photos but in the process younger people were happy to show and explain how smartphones work.
Having a mixed, rather than homogenous, group is really important. Over the years we've discussed a variety of subjects– marriage, work, retirement, children, school,social media, travel and even a full 90 minutes dedicated to the subject of death. Sharing our achievements and perceived failures, our knowledge on the important issues in life, what makes us happy and sad, what we know and don't know with other people-young or old– is what gives meaning to our lives
So the intergenerational
Hi Regina,Yes, I ask the
Yes, I ask the group to encourage others to join. I always make a point of asking for younger people for the morning groups and older people on the evening courses. Society functions best when all voices are equally heard
Age range of your participants
Age range of your participants---social inclusion of the ageing
Yes, it's not always ideal. Monday morning: the groups are a mixture of retired professionals, a couple of foreign students and occasionally a young mother/father. Tuesday evenings the age ranges tends to be 35-55
I've found the film club Monday Wednesday and Friday evening attracts a better mix of people –young and old
I live in Switzerland!
Social inclusion long-term unemployed elderly adults
The paticipants in program Social inclusion
Participants of the program are included through so called “the entry points” - the Centre for Social Work, the Employment Service and on the recommendation of local communities, who know individuals and their complexity.
For potential candidates we provide motivational workshops where we outline the course and present them the contribution to their daily’s. The best motivation to participate in these programs are participants who have already been involved in program activities.
For each group the program lasts for six months.
We are now halfway through the implementation for the second group.
Participants are very diverse. Their age ranges are from 23 to 54 years.
Sounds great - do you already
Experience from the participants
As soon as the program was finished for the first implementation group, three participants were recruited and three decided to continue their education.
We also keep in touch with the participants at the end of the program. If there is a need to help them to further challenges, we are directing them, and first and foremost we are a foothold they have never had before. And most of them tell us that big changes have happened to them in their lives (better understanding at home, better financial situation, new friendships, more optimism,better social environment, new life opportunities,… ).
In second group, eight participants were already employed during the program and two decided for education – obtaining a National professional qualification.
Welcome everyone!
Hi,I am working with adults
Importance of Adult Learning and Education for elderly
"Lire et faire lire" a project involving retired persons
Great initiative! Do the
CHALLEDU
BRIDGE
Recommendations: older people have an active role in the society
ZDUS – Slovene Federation of Pensioners Associations, as a representative NGO of older people, older people are our sole target group. All our activities in various fields are directed towards engaging older people to live an active, healthy, independent life as long as possible. We believe this process should start even before a person gets retired. A few years before retirement starts, older workers should be equipped with knowledge about what old age brings, how to continue life after they officially retire, what are their options and how to stay included in those activities which suit them to most and which bring them a happy and fulfilling third life period. In Slovenia we have such examples of pre-retirement seminars, but for now they only exist for specific profession (like the military, police or teachers). By engaging in organised activities in their local environment (for example in amateur culture, recreational activities, active citizenship, volunteering, life-long learning etc.), they stay actively involved and can contribute to society.
COVID-19 pandemic and older learners
At ZDUS – Slovene Federation of Pensioners Associations we believe that in the times of social isolation due to COVID-19 the importance of learning in older age and for old age has on the one had become more visible and on the other it revealed where the gaps in learning are. For example as most services, events and other daily life responsibilities moved to only being available online, the vast majority of older people who are not e-literate, were excluded from participating and exercising their rights. In this situation we believe intergenerational learning could be beneficial, but since older people are a vulnerable group and younger people were advised to take care of their seniors and not expose them to the risk of Covid-19, physical intergenerational learning could not happen. Certainly COVID-19 exposed that older people will have to be engaged in e-learning in the foreseeable future.
The discussion takes place here in the comments
the discussion takes place here in the comments.
You can read your colleagues' comments, insights and presentations and reply to them adding your perspective. Or you can post your own point of view and other will join.
Claudia (EPALE Moderator)