"""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"

"Title of project: Increase and development of manual skills and physical vitality of citizens of the European Union over 50 years (IDEMASAP 50+). Unemployment in the European Union has been at the lowest levels in the last few years. The economy is running at full speed and we can talk about importing human capital into the EU. These positive economic indicators also have shortcomings as the overwork and ""burnout"" of certain jobs. The main goal of the project was: Increase and develop manual skills and physical vitality in connection with the exchange of best practices in adult education in EU countries. The project belongs to adult education and focuses on the exchange of best practices in the learning area. It supports the development and higher effectiveness of continuing education aimed at older adults in particular. Partial goals of the project: 100 students in the learning process, 10-20 involved lecturers, 5 international partnerships, 140 international mobilities, 10 created study materials and video manuals and other activities such as seminars, conferences and exhibitions. Main target groups - EU citizens over 50 and lecturers in further education. Strengths of the project: an experienced working team and experienced experts in adult and senior education in Europe. The results of the project (studey materials, video materials) are in English language and on project web page: https://utv.tuzvo.sk/en/idemasap-50, YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UTVZvolen and on EU Erasmus plus platform - results. Project participants were able to engage in a 1.5 year learning process. They had the opportunity to engage in international mobility and actively participate in other project activities. Participating organizations were able to show their best experiences - practices in the learning process, create a study guide and share their experience at international meetings."

"<< Background >>The project ""Education and life of adults aged 50+ after the COVID-19 pandemic. Innovative supporting tools"" is a response of institutions operating in the ""Adult education"" sector to the needs of people struggling with the negative effects of the pandemic. It changed the way of life for all people on earth. A large part of Europeans had to limit their social contacts, adapt to new ways of working, but most of all - they struggled with stress due to their own illness, illness of close people, and often also the tragedy of losing relatives and friends. At the time of this project, Europe was recovering from the third wave of the pandemic, vaccination was carried out - which caused anxiety in many adults, and there was a gradual reduction of preventive restrictions. However, our life was still largely online.The organizations participating in this project analyzed all the factors described above and conducted research on the needs of adult Poles, Slovaks, Latvians, Portuguese and Spanish (500 people in each country, 250 F and 250 M), paying attention to aspects related to their mental and physical well-being . Our research on a group of 2,500 people showed that people aged 50+ most need support in returning to mental balance and physical health. As institutions dealing, inter alia, with non-professional and non-formal adult education, we have developed a solution that we want to address to all adults, especially people aged 50+ who seek support in regaining physical and mental well-being, using educational activities. We will use a medium that has irretrievably become a permanent element of our lives - the Internet. As part of this project, we will create an online platform in the following languages: English, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Latvian and Slovak, as part of open educational resources, with an open license enabling the general public to use, reuse, adapt and share these resources, with the possibility of developing further language versions. The platform will include:- a minimum of 10 e-learning courses (4 courses using various forms of caring for physical condition: zumba, yoga, ""Healthy spine and joints"" program, strength and endurance training; healthy cooking and baking as the basis of our health; mindfulness course - ways of regaining balance; a course of living in harmony with nature; 2 DIY courses using various techniques; Internet communication course for health and mental balance ""Express yourself online""),- a channel with advice on, among others: coping with stress, coping with other negative emotions, safe search for social contacts on the Internet, safe use of the Internet, effective communication (also on-line) and others;- the function of on-line (real-time) participation in free educational (non-professional) classes for adults in our organizations - in the blended learning model,- a library of internet addresses providing free on-line access to: cultural events (e.g. theater performances), works of culture (e.g. galleries, online museums), meetings of interest groups, support groups, etc.We are convinced that this tool will respond to the needs of many adults, especially people aged 50+ who are struggling with the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in their lives. What's more, we see another potential in this tool - reaching a huge number of people with forms of non-formal education, who until now, due to various limitations - e.g. geographic or financial - could not use it. Therefore, the project has the potential to contribute to the inclusion of many people in non-formal adult education who have not been able to benefit from it so far.<< Objectives >>Through the implementation of the project, we want to create a tool - an on-line platform and reach our target group: adults, especially people aged 50+, suffering from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.We intend to develop, test and commission a multi-tool available on-line, which:- it will allow to respond to the diagnosed today and diagnosed in the future needs of adults affected by the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and especially to provide the aforementioned group of recipients with real help in improving their mental and physical condition,- will allow a significant increase in the number of people with fewer opportunities who will benefit from non-formal adult education in the countries participating in this project, and in the longer term also in other countries.Through the implementation of the project, we also want to develop the skills of adult education staff in our organizations, increase the potential and importance of our institutions, develop our potential for international cooperation and develop the cooperation of partners conducting non-professional adult education.<< Implementation >>To achieve what we described above, we plan to:1) conduct classes in a mixed mode for 6 semesters in each organization participating in the project (50% of participants physically present, 50% on-line) for 2 groups of 25 people each (in each group, about half of the participants in a full-time mode and half on -line); the classes will be aimed at people who would like to find a solution to the problems they face as a result of the pandemic through the implementation of educational activities; the classes will concern:--- ways of caring for physical condition: 1) zumba, 2) yoga, 3) ""Healthy spine and joints"" program, 4) strength and endurance training;--- healthy and tasty cooking and baking as the basis for the health of body and spirit;--- mindfulness - techniques for regaining balance;--- (returning to) living in harmony with nature;--- relaxation through ""do it yourself"" classes, using various techniques of work - from wood to strings to ceramics;--- communication on the network (Internet) for health and mental balance, 2) by conducting the above courses, enable adult’s educators to gather experience in conducting classes in the blended learning model3) by conducting the above-mentioned classes and, through the cooperation of adult education staff from our institutions, lead to the creation of a minimum of 10 e-learning courses for self-learning by the student (if possible, also those that will meet the assumptions for MOOC courses) 4) build an internet platform, post the above-mentioned functions and content, make it available for use by the students participating in the project and conduct a trial implementation, examining the strengths and weaknesses of the tool and making appropriate adjustments 5) at the beginning of the 6th semester, organize an event in each participating organization to disseminate the results of the project, ie the platform: present the assumptions about the ADULTSAFTERCOVID.EU platform; the event will take the form of a physical conference and broadcast online at the same time 6) after the conference - start to use of the platform on a large scale in the sixth semester of the project7) collect feedback from platform users, introduce corrections, at the end of the project, give the final form of the platform for wide use as part of open educational resources, with an open license enabling the general public to use, reuse, adapt and share these resources, with the possibility of developing subsequent language versions, 8) after the end of the project - the use of the platform by each organization to conduct classes, supplementing it with new results created by our organizations, making it available for development in subsequent language versions, making it available for use by other institutions of non-professional adult education.<< Results >>Based on the potential that - paradoxically - is left behind by the COVID-19 pandemic, and which we see in the transfer of a large part of the activity to the on-line zone, we want to reach adults in the countries participating in the project, as well as adults who speak English, with online educational tools aimed at:- improving the mental and physical well-being of people, especially those aged 50+, struggling with the negative effects of the pandemic- inclusion of adults in non-formal, non-professional education and awakening in them the willingness to use this form of development throughout their lives- creating new education channels - using not only e-learning, but also blended learning- inclusion of people with fewer opportunities (for economic, social, cultural, geographical, health, ethnic, disability, learning or any other reasons) in non-professional, non-formal education and real learning opportunities, that is development, throughout life.According to the title of the project - we want to create tools to assist adults in returning / starting education and improving their quality of life after the COVID-19 pandemic. The quantitative results assumed by us are the regular use of the platform by at least 2,000 adults in each of the following countries: Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Portugal, Spain during the last four months of the project and a steady increase in this number after the end of the project. The material results are a minimum of 10 courses based on on-line self-education, a channel with various tips, a tool for participation in e-learning / blended learning, a library of internet addresses giving free on-line access to: cultural events (e.g. theater performances), works culture (e.g. galleries, online museums), meetings of interest groups, support groups, etc.The next effects of the project will be new competences of adult education staff in our organizations, increasing the quality and importance of our organizations' activities, developing and strengthening our partner net, increasing the international character of our activities."