<< Objectives >>The project’s main objective is to support social inclusion of senior women and to promote gender equality at national and European levels, through adaptation on the WOMENinSTORIES programme, utilising digital storytelling methods. Specifically, the project aims to 1) develop innovative educational activities for senior women, 2) raise awareness about the needs of seniors and about the importance of gender equality, 3) improve skills of senior women, and 4) train adult educators.<< Implementation >>The project’s activities will include development of the training materials and tools for adult educators and senior women as well as online learning environment and digital assessment and validation tools, based on ecosystem of open badges.During the project, adult educators will be trained on how to effectively work with senior women while utilising innovative methods and digital tools and senior women will take part in the educational activities improving their digital storytelling skills<< Results >>The project’s results will include comprehensive set of learning tools and activities comprising the WOMENinSTORIES PROGRAMME. The results will include 1) collection of best practices and tools promoting social inclusion of seniors, 2) training materials and guidelines for adult educators, 3) both theoretical and practical digital storytelling and podcast course for senior women 4) online educational platform, 5) ecosystem of open badges, 6) digital stories and podcast promoting gender equality.

<< Background >>Ageing is a global phenomenon. The world population is ageing causing changes in the society as whole. Senior citizens represent an important and ever growing part of our European population, economy and society: Nowadays 20% of the Berlin population (700.000 people) and 22% of the Erfurt population (50.000 people) is over 65 years old. This poses manifold questions as to how member states can best ensure social inclusion, active citizenship and participation in life, economy and the society, access to services, goods and opportunities in order to enable healthy well-being and independent living thus minimizing the cost on their families, the society and the economy in general. Therefore, the project will address the above mentioned challenges and collaborate with partners on building interactive tools to address them.<< Objectives >>The Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth acknowledges LifeLong Learning and digital skill development as key elements in response to the current economic crisis and demographic aging. By improving adults' ability to adapt to changes in the labor market, the family and the society, a contribution to the overcoming of the economic crisis, as well as the achievement of the Europe 2020 targets can be made. New adult learning possibilities provide upgrade- as well as re-skilling opportunities for those affected by unemployment and aging, while at the same time important contributions to social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development are being made.Yet, there is a growing consensus that adult learning is currently the weakest unit in developing national lifelong-learning systems. Participation in adult learning has continued to grow slowly, from 9,8 % of the 25-64 year-old population in 2005 to only 10,7 % in 2014, thus making the increased ‘ET2020’ target of 15 % by 2020 an even greater challenge.The ET2020, that was published in the 2015 New Priorities Report (COM/2015/408), acknowledges that Adult Learning is the basis for up-and re-skilling. Therefore priorities should include more effective policy making in that field, significant increases in supplies, a more flexible offer, broader access and closer monitoring to address unemployment and low skills.<< Implementation >>The consortium consists of 7 partners, from 6 EU countries which cover a wide range of expertise. The current project is complementary to previous projects, as apart from the development of a powerful and dynamic platform specially designed to unite and link seniors across Europe, the project proposes to deliver a targeted and high quality series of digital learning opportunities, which are expected to bring systemic changes on senior citizens’ health and wellbeing, social inclusion, active participation and personal development, thus meetings the targets of the EU 2020 for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and the ET 2020 Strategies for Adult learning, as well as on improving the PIAAC results in the acquisition of adults’ digital and language competences.<< Results >>The most important results to be expected during the project and on its completion are the following:1. An innovative learning pathway program (offered on-line and in-house) to acquire digital and literacy skills to be accompanied with a learning pack supported by the targeted framework and data from the survey.2. The complete “Digital and English Literacy backpack” designed to meet the physical, mental and scientific needs of senior citizens that will include the: Digital and Literacy Competence Framework, on-line/on-paper manuals, strategic campaign etc. for Digital Active Aging in support of the value of EU Agenda for Adult Learning.3. The dynamic and interactive online tool, based on data to support the digital up-skilling of adults to contribute to a self-determined life as long as possible. The online tool will record adults' data taken from the self- assessment (i.e. stocktaking-audit) and at the same time generate relevant data based on a profiling system that will evaluate their skills against benchmarks and indicators as set in the framework developed. Through a multi-level assessment system ranging from self-assessment to peer-review-mentoring and external assessment for validation purposes following a mechanism widely used the Open Badges, complying with the 2016 EC Recommendation for the skills guarantee.4. The upload of a dynamic and interactive online platform based on cutting edge technology named United Generations, which will link adults and young people.

The project ACT4WOMEN focuses on the group of women living in rural, remote, isolated or marginalised areas who have restricted access to the world of work and who are engaged in the production of handicrafts or any other form of “homemade” productions or services related to culture and/or the community/environment they live in. Rural women are the driving force for the maintenance and development of these areas, both in cultural and financial terms, as they contribute to the preservation of traditions/culture and the development of the countryside which faces a constant process of depopulation. This group of women however, face underemployment, poverty, lack of basic services in the field of education and traditional, have to deal with stereotyped issues for the woman’s role in the society and issues with regards to the their involvement in entrepreneurial and digital employment. It’s a common fact that many women who live in these areas are largely excluded from the labour market and social participation. Most of them are engaged in home-based productions (handicraft, sweets, herbs, bakery products etc.) or provision of services (tourist guide, coffee shop etc.) characterized by long hours, low income, high dependence on intermediaries with limited skills and training opportunities. The project aims to equip and empower women with key competences (social entrepreneurial and digital related), skills and tools in order to turn entrepreneurial ideas into start-ups, with a view to tackling discrimination between genders and also to impact their community and their culture. It also aims to empower them with self-confidence to start their own or in cooperation with others social enterprise in the form of a ‘home-based business model’ by providing the necessary social entrepreneurial and digital knowledge, mindset and skills with the focus on traditional handmade production or any other type of business related to the culture, community and environment they live in. Access, social inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination are among the priorities addressed here. The project address the following priorities:HORIZONTAL: Skills development and inclusion through creativity and the arts HORIZONTAL: Supporting individuals in acquiring and developing basic skills and key competencesADULT: Increasing learning demand and take-up through effective, outreach, guidance and motivation strategiesHORIZONTAL: Social and educational value of European cultural heritage, its contribution to job creation, economic growth and social inclusion The partnership comprises of 7 partners with a transnational status representing: UK, France, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Latvia, Greece and Portugal. The partners have different expertise and experiences, that complement each other with the main aim to support all needs and requirements of the project.The consortium plans to produce several products as part of the 4 main Intellectual Outputs such as a mapping tool to present good practices on line, successful women’s entrepreneurs profiles, interactive platform, gamification for learning and assessment purposes, new teaching and learning material and provision of upskilling programme-service. The project includes also 4 transnational project meetings and one blended mobility activity where women from all partner countries (except Cameroon) will participate to share their experiences. During the lifetime of the project 6 Multiplier Events will be organized whereas the project will be disseminated through an official website, social media, leaflets and newsletter to a wide network of stakeholders and associate partners. The project aims to reach out to a large number of women, adults, adult educators, social workers, authorities, local councils, cultural agents, stakeholders and associate partners to raise their awareness about the potential of exploiting entrepreneurship education with a social impact for including women in the labour market.

"The project ""Healthier Europeans - a healthier Community"" was prepared in cooperation with 5 institutions providing adult education. Our partnership includes Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Romania and Portugal. The partnership has been created to service in order to implement activity programs addressed to people 50+. The overall goal of the project is the implementation of 90 hours of classes for 30 students in each of the partner organizations. Classes are focused on the education of people 50+, how to care for a health and mental well-being. The classes have got own leading topics connected with the Erasmus+ Program and European identity. In the first phase of the project the educators will join to a short training program for employees. Each of sending organization will direct 8 educators to the mobility. They are: nordic walking trainer, relaxation exercises trainer, pilates trainer, conducting posture shaping exercises and small hand and foot motility exercises trainer, dietitian conducting workshops on ""healthy equipment"", internist doctor, physiotherapist improving perception of hearing and look and concentration of expectations, psychologist conducting classes developing communication skills and social competences. During the training, educators will exchange with good practices, will creat a 90-hour program of classes for students and accompanying events, and also will develope a set of leading topics. This program will be implemented by each partner institution as part of local activities in the project. to strengthen the effects of local activities, we will organize ""learning mobility"" for students - 5 meetings, one in each partner country. 5 students from each of sending organisation will participate in each meeting abroad. The hosts will teach the guests and local participants. They will focus to:1) strengthen the motivation to develop habits to take care of mental health and well-being,2) promote the Erasmus + Program and its educational offer and the idea of ​​lifelong learning.3) build the European identity of participants.The project will bring the following results:1) implementing an innovative work program with 50+ students in each organization,2) introduction of new methods, tools, approaches, etc. to the work of the above educators,3) increase the professional competences of educators,4) lead students 50+ to develop proper habits of caring for mental health and well-being,5) promote the Erasmus + Program and its offer among project participants,6) build / strengthen the European identity of project participants,7) promote the idea of ​​lifelong learning,8) promote intergenerational learning.Each of the participating organizations will use the program and new approaches, methods, tools etc. also after the end of the project."

"""Women 55+ versus COVID-19. Exchange of good practices in supporting the development of personal and social competences and learning skills as well as increasing social inclusion of disadvantaged people"" is a project implemented by 5 adult non-professional education organizations from countries: Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Turkey and Spain. It is based on the exchange of good practices between psychologists and art instructors from each participating organization. Knowledge, skills and attitudes of developing personal, social and learning competences are exchanged. Competences are also developed to increase the social inclusion of disadvantaged people.The above interactions are conducted by the psychologist + art instructor duo during 10 different - creative, artistic and psychological - workshops:- making jewelry from pearls, stones and other natural materials- making scented candles and simple cosmetics from natural ingredients- decoupage, painting on glass, decorating with torn paper- creative digital photography with the use of smartphones- creative writing: poetry- moodboard-based graphics- crocheting and knitting- carpet weaving- embroidering- macrame plaiting.The project involves 60 women aged 55+ with secondary or less education in the each partner organization, who, as a result of various factors related to the pandemic (e.g. reduction in employment, end of employment, increased emotional tensions in the family or work environment, etc.) experienced breakdown, powerlessness and / or helplessness. In the described group of participants, the primary area requiring support is the development of personal cross-sectional competences (mainly in terms of identifying emotions and expressing them, as well as strengthening the mental structure and the potential to cope with difficulties). The secondary need of the above-mentioned group is the development of social and learning skills. The above-mentioned project activities are complemented by the educational mobility of participants, led by the slogan of European values.In addition to classes for participants, the project also includes training for educators conducting the classes. First as part of the mobility, and then once a month on-line. Also important in the project are the implementation and dissemination activities both between partners and outside the participating organizations.The goals of the project are:- carrying out the above-mentioned classes in the above-mentioned target group and exchange of good practices between partners in these fields- mobility of trainers and project participants- testing the effectiveness of these activities- making a publication containing: program, scenarios and methodological guidelines as well as a discussion of selected cases - ""Program for the development of personal, social and learning skills in adult women using creative, artistic and psychological activities""- thanks to cooperation as well as joint training programs of trainers, etc. the staff in our organizations will be prepared for implementation (and permanent implementation) to the offer of our organizations classes according to the above-mentioned program- disseminating the program outside the partnership, with particular emphasis on its pilot implementation in min. 1 cultural institution from the environment of each organization (staff training and support in implementation).The following results are expected at the end of the project:- permanent and noticeable increase in the above-mentioned cross-sectional competences of min. 85% of participants in each partner organization- permanent and noticeable increase in social inclusion of min. 95% of participants in each partner organization- increasing awareness of European values: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rights of people belonging to minorities of 85% of the project participants- development of professional competences of 4 psychologists and 4 art instructors in each organization (trainers participating in the project)- each partner organization, after the end of the project, will implement in its educational offer min. 4 workshops (2 previous ones plus at least 2 selected from those conducted by partner organizations)- transfer of knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired during the project, min. 2 more psychologists and min. 2 more art instructors- publication of the above-mentioned ""Program ..."" in 5 native languages and in English- material results from classes - min. 120 works of art in each organization- increasing the English language skills of participants, educators, members of project management teams- training of adult education staff (at least 1 cultural institution from the environment of each partner organization) to implement the program with at least 1 workshop. Then, supervision and support in the implementation of the program in this institution- a series of events disseminating the results of the project - exhibitions etc"