Since 2022, partners from 4 European countries - Italy, Spain, Poland and Portugal - have been working to improve the quality of life of seniors in a post-pandemic world. They fight disinformation, educate on how to avoid it, promote European values and show the importance of democracy. Apart from preparing educational materials and cooperation between educator-partners, the project focused on promoting digital literacy and conscious participation in democratic life, addressing how online disinformation can affect democracy and the electoral process, and strengthening knowledge and sharing of European Union values. Apart from the local activities undertaken by the partners, getting seniors acquainted with the European Union "from behind the scenes" was not to be missed.

Study visit to Brussels

On 22-23 June 2023, the project partners and seniors from each country (a total of 32 people!) took part in a study visit to Brussels (Belgium). First, the whole group met with Paulo Rocha Trinidade, who talked about the importance of the regions and the economy. It was also an opportunity for the seniors to ask questions about the Union and their plans for the future. The group was then greeted and guided by António Figueira, who introduced everyone to the workings of the European Parliament and the European Union institutions. After official meetings in the Parliament, the senior citizens learned about the value of the Union, which can be experienced daily by its citizens. To this end, they took part in an urban game that allowed them to discover and appreciate the culture and curiosities of Brussels and admire its treasures.

Blended mobility of learners in Bitonto

This blended mobility of senior learners was implemented as an enriching intercultural activity, offering an exchange of educational experiences to seniors, building and adding solidity to the European identity and allowing them to understand better our program methodology's transferability and adaptability to different settings and cultures.

In preparation for the mobility to Italy, the virtual one was held to set up an intercultural group representing Europe's richness and diversity before physical mobility. This mobility involved representatives of the partner organisations and six seniors with each of them. The activity took place from 19 to 23 September, in addition to the days allocated for travel. During this mobility, three training sessions were held, during which the seniors undertook tasks such as a painting workshop to understand diversity and establish intercultural communication, a meeting on local dances, a dance workshop and an intercultural cooking workshop to raise awareness on values, diversity and the essence of cultural heritage; a planning and problem-solving workshop - writing a letter to the EU to increase the sense of belonging to the EU and European identity. In addition to these activities, participants further explored the charms and traditions of Bitonto, Bari and the Apulia region, learning about the history of these places and their most characteristic characteristics. With this form of intercultural and international integration, language proved to be an excessive tool, and farewells were extremely warm with the wish to meet again soon shortly.

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.