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UPGRADING THE RESILENCE AND ADAPTABILITY OF SENIORS IN THE POST-COVID ERA THROUGH A DIGITAL-DRIVEN LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMME PROMOTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OF ALL AGES

Funder: European CommissionProject code: 2021-1-PT01-KA220-ADU-000035326
Funded under: ERASMUS+ | Partnerships for cooperation and exchanges of practices | Cooperation partnerships in adult education Funder Contribution: 259,838 EUR

UPGRADING THE RESILENCE AND ADAPTABILITY OF SENIORS IN THE POST-COVID ERA THROUGH A DIGITAL-DRIVEN LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMME PROMOTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OF ALL AGES

Description

<< Background >>The mental health challenges that have erupted due to the quarantine and social distancing measures as a result of Covid-19, accentuated the need to introduce new technologies which will ensure their social participation and inclusion in the digital age. Active ageing and social wellbeing importantly, stand as an integral part for a progressive and inclusive society. WHO estimates that between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%, emphasizing the need to create innovative solutions which will curb social challenges and mental health challenges the population faces. Considering the increasing number of the growing population of the elderly and the rising phenomena of social isolation and loneliness among seniors in the EU, promoting wellbeing can prevent social isolation among seniors. According to AGE Platform EU, seniors are more likely to develop depression symptoms which lead into higher risks of suicide compared to other groups of population. To this extent, the 2019 Active Ageing Index stressed that the capacity of seniors to socially participate is strongly connected with receiving education, e-literacy and mental health. EC notes that in 2019, 18% of adults in Europe face social isolation while the majority refers to the seniors’ population who find obstacles in engaging in social activities due to social and health constraints. The global pandemic has put into a sharp relief the necessity to develop ICT-technologies which promote mental health, education and lifelong learning for seniors in relation to the digital transformation to ensure their social and digital participation. Moreover, WHO Europe demonstrates that the mental health crisis in Europe refers to the anxieties around virus transmission, the psychological impact of lockdowns and self-isolation, financial worries and social exclusion which all will have a long-term impact and far-reaching. For instance, mental health services have been stretched and reduced as a result of pandemic and there is a decreasing likelihood that they will be able to be reconstructed soon. Based on the EU Agenda for Adult learning ‘highlights the need to significantly increase adult participation in formal, non-formal and informal learning whether to acquire work skills, for active citizenship, or for personal development and fulfilment’.However, digital illiterate seniors find it more difficult to operate their smart phones, have lower computer skills and a different approach should be developed when introducing seniors in modern gadgets as they were mostly not introduced to e-learning from an early age. Seniors face a number of challenges, such as they mostly live alone, face mobility restrictions and one of their aspirations as reflected in the Active Ageing Index, is to live independently securing social inclusion and civic engagement.Moreover, the EU Committee of the Regions stresses the importance of recognising the value of volunteering and its capacity to increase the performance of the European economy. Eurostat emphasises the role of seniors in society and the necessity to bridge the generational gap by the development of opportunities to exchange ideas. The Treaty of Lisbon moreover made inter-generational solidarity an explicit aim for the functioning of the EU. The Council endorsed in 2012 the Guiding Principles on Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations which focuses on promoting participation in society including social inclusion, lifelong learning and senior volunteering. The project emphasises the need to develop a digital driven intergenerational programme based on volunteering principles and advance the competences of professionals working with seniors to be able to support their mental health through digital means.<< Objectives >>The main objectives are to ensure social inclusion, civic engagement, active participation in the society and mental wellbeing of seniors. The project seeks to address the need of developing innovative tools which will promote active ageing of seniors as well as upgrade the services provided by adult educators and organisations that work directly with the group. Specifically, the project aims:-To promote innovative methods and pedagogies used by adult educators -To develop learning materials and tools as well as actions that support the effective use of ICTs in E&T-To enhance access, participation and learning performance for seniors-To promote recognition as well as transparency and comparability of learning outcomes ant to promote innovative solutions for the recognition and supporting the validation through the use of OPEN BADGES-To promote social inclusion through innovative and integrated approaches by enhancing mental health of seniors facilitate social cohesion.-To enhance ownership of shared values, equality, social inclusion, diversity and non-discrimination through acquiring mental health skills and competences.-To support and assess new approaches by reducing disparities in accessing and engaging with formal and non-formal education regarding the introduction and provision of mental health intervention programmes.-To encourage the establishment of sustainable links between organisations active in education, training, health community and the society at large including at the local and the regional level.-To facilitate intergenerational learning between older and younger generations;-To offer the opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences and knowledge which will impact on the wellbeing of seniors and younger generations will engage in volunteering programmes;-To promote digital skills for seniors in order to enable their integration in the digital era;-To increase social participation, digital inclusion and prevent loneliness and mental health challenges among seniors-To enable active citizenship and civic engagement of seniors in today’s digital era-To curb the challenges erupted by Covid-19 especially in regards to social isolation and rise of anxiety and exclusion of seniors-To promote volunteering ideals for Younger generations by providing motivations and engagement in volunteering work-To address the need of digital transformation through development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity for adult educators and seniors through the development of a PROGRAMME that targets ADULT EDUCATORS and professionals working directly with seniors such as experts, social workers, gerontologists etc. -To advance digital and life-skills skills and competences of all the population through the e-ACADEMY and the MOBILE APP to be developed.<< Implementation >>The project aims to design, develop, pilot-test and offer an IT solution in the form of a web platform and a mobile application that will address the societal challenges such as social isolation-loneliness, mobility, mental health, wellbeing, LLL and distress of seniors enlarged by the current global pandemic, as well as, offer the opportunity to create a sustainable volunteering and mentoring system for the elderly with the support of younger people ensuring distance learning for digital inclusion. Toward this aim the following activities will be implemented:R.1-A1. Map out the current programmes offered to seniors at the regional level which promote mental wellbeing through digital means during the pandemic-A2. Develop synergies with programmes’ providers-A3. Create the Handbook-Methodology in which the Programme will be based on to guide stakeholders of the main elements of the programme and how should be usedR.2-A1. Create the Competence Framework for Active Ageing which will identify the main topics and skills that seniors need to obtain and to be included in the Educational Pack -A2. Develop the Educational and Active Ageing Activities Pack for both Seniors and Adult Educators, YP (Volunteers). -A3. Prepare the Blended Professional Development Course for Adult Educators and Capacity-Building Training for volunteers R.3-A1. Partners will create the e-Academy to include the project results in R2-A2. Develop the MOBILE APP in which the elements of recruitment – between seniors and volunteers-A3. Develop the e-learning platform for YP and Adult Educators. R.4-A1. Create the Campaign at the local and regional levels by using social media and traditional media tools-A2. Design the STRONG2GETHER TOOL KIT for setting up the Programme in the Community. -A3. Evaluate the Programme to adult educators, YP and Seniors-Conduct an upscaling and policy recommendation pack Moreover, the Train-the-Trainer activity (C1) will provide the opportunity for trainers within partner organisations to gained adequate and efficient knowledge on the guidelines of using the programme.<< Results >>Through the above-mentioned activities the following results are anticipated:R.1 -THE STRONG2GETHER INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMME: HANDBOOK –METHODOLOGY to guide on how the programme can be used by organisations. It will include the criteria to become as volunteer, the validation methods, the role of EXPERTS (organisations that supervisor the recruitment process between Young People and Seniors). R.2 -The STRONG2GETHER EDUCATIONAL AND ACTIVE AGEING ACTIVITIES PACK which will be based on the COMPETENCE FRAMEWORK for seniors sessions to improve mental wellbeing of seniors will be developed. -The BLENDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE FOR ADULT EDUCATORS AND CAPACITY TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS to include didactic guidelines for teaching seniors and a course for volunteers to be equipped with skills and competences to be able to teach seniors new skills through volunteering.R.3 -The MOBILE APP to integrate the recruitment tool between volunteers and seniors -The e-learning platform for volunteers and Adult Educators -The e-ACADEMY platform for SENIORS -A Manual of how the these can be usedR.4 -The TOOL KIT and a Policy recommendation pack will be developed to identify currents needs and gaps in the EU agenda of Active Ageing regarding digital transformation programmes for seniors in the age of Covid-19.The TOOL KIT will include the following:•In-service training of adult educators for professional development focusing on how digital tools can be used to advance active ageing support to seniors•e-Mapping TOOL with digital storytelling videos/written content of seniors and adult educators and providers’ names •Handbook-Methodology in which the Programme is designed (R1)•Competence Framework of Seniors and Educational Pack•BLENDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE FOR ADULT EDUCATORS AND CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS•e-Learning platform for Volunteers and Adult Educators, e-ACADEMY for seniors and a MOBILE APP•Web-RadioAmong the outcomes are:-Advance the programmes offered to seniors for increasing mental wellbeing and civic engagement-Upgrade the profile of adult educators working with seniors such as physicians, social workers, trainers, gerontologists etc.-Provide information on the programmes provided at an EU level which will help interested parties to find relevant information and look up for the providers-Define the topics of importance and interest to be included in the ACTIVE AGEING PACK, the TRAINING COURSES for Adult Educators and Young People -Improve civic engagement of seniors through intergenerational learning opportunities that will be placed through the MOBILE APP -Offer the opportunity to Young People to be professionally developed through acquiring the VOLUNTEER Open Badge, their involvement in the organisation of events, live-shows, podcasting etc. and at the same time enhance volunteering ideals.

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