About the project
Education and civic activity of older people in the Podlaskie Voivodeship.
Between 2022 and 2024, the Zdrowe Miasto Foundation and the National Freedom Institute (CRSO) are carrying out the project "Participatory Seniors Academy of the Podlaskie Voivodeship". The main aim is to increase civic and social activity, and to educate and encourage local communities of older people to create and carry out participatory activities, by providing them with extensive and comprehensive advisory, training and activating support matched to the diagnosed needs and expectations of this group. This will result in greater activity in social and public life, as well as stronger bonds and a stronger sense of influence and agency. The work will be carried out through four strands:
Digital skills training — acquiring digital skills that allow older people to engage more fully in social life (and also a way of drawing interest to the project; a detailed description of the topics is given in the activities).
Participation training — acquiring knowledge and skills as a local community leader who consciously activates and shapes their community. During sessions with an expert, participants will learn the legal basis of the citizen–authority relationship. They will also learn about the "paths" for handling matters with administrative bodies and how to make enquiries, and will find out how the Public Information Bulletin works and what it can be used for (a detailed description of the topics is given in the activities).
The Academy of Participation and Activation of Seniors, Pensioners and Retirees (PASER) — the PASER Academy is aimed at people over 60. It will focus on supporting participants' leadership skills, on shaping civic attitudes and on the ability to cooperate with other leaders, organisations and public institutions. With the support of qualified staff, participants will engage actively in work for the local community and, having gained leadership skills, will take part in grassroots activities. The Academy's work will result in organising and carrying out a series of grassroots actions concerning the role of older people in the local community — from requests for public information and contact with representatives of councils and offices, through to civic proposals submitted and a project (possibly more than one) submitted to the participatory budget.
White Book of Practices. An analysis of the problems and solutions connected with the low level of participation of people aged 60+, based on the Academy's work and on research carried out during the project. While preparing the application we realised how little analysis exists of the needs, problems and opportunities connected with participation and with the role of older people in shaping civil society. We drew our conclusions from national materials, our own experience and an analysis of interviews with members of the group. We assumed that the absence of source material is in itself "a confirmation of the problem". In 2022 we delivered the workshop part — on digital and participation skills. They were attended by 220 and 120 people respectively. More details about the project can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/AkademiaPASER.
Total budget: PLN 274,040.00
The project was financed by the National Freedom Institute — Centre for Civil Society Development, under the government programme CIVIC INITIATIVES FUND NOWEFIO for 2013–2020.