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Description
The aim of the project is to strengthen the competences and motivation of senior leaders, especially of those active in municipal and county councils of seniors from the Warmian-Masurian Province. A survey carried out in 2016 by the Institute for Social and Educational Studies on a group of 300 seniors revealed two groups of barriers that hinder or prevent the activity of older people. These are internal barriers (isolation, lack of trust in the local environment, previous negative experiences) and external barriers (inability to reach meeting places, insufficient access to information, facilities and equipment). Over the past four years, these barriers have been reduced thanks to our activities, but the Covid-19 pandemic caused the negative phenomena to return. Currently, in 121 municipalities in the Warmian-Masurian Province, only 23 senior citizens'' councils are functioning, including 3 in rural municipalities. The pandemic was hardly survived by councils firmly anchored in their environment, in which they have been operating for 2-3 terms. The pandemic has ‘paralysed’ councils whose term of office was ending or in which their leaders were resigning. It also makes elections for a new term difficult. The necessity of the project is communicated by the seniors themselves who are active in the councils. Within the the project, we provide support in the form of counselling, and conduct a series of workshops improving the leaders’ knowledge and competences in the area of communication, leadership, cooperation with local government and digital competences. We strengthen individuals, but also entire councils as consultative and advisory bodies of local governments. A partner in the project is the Social Council of Seniors in the Warmian-Masurian Province, composed of representatives of county councils of senior citizens and senior organisations and communities.
Summary of project results
Through its activities, the project was intended to counteract the effects of the COVID pandemic among leaders of senior groups and members of senior councils by strengthening their competences and motivation to act. The pandemic significantly reduced the activity of these people, which had a negative impact on both leaders and their activities in the field of senior public policies and watchdog activities in local communities. The activities provided for in the project allowed for the expansion or systematization of knowledge, which also translated into the involvement and agency of the people participating in it.
Product Summary:
- 13 senior communities were supported
- 8 meetings with local government were held
- 3 communication workshops were held
- 5 specialist workshops
- 60 hours of specialist support provided
- 10 meetings with councils/senior communities:
- 15 people benefited from reimbursement of costs of participation in events
- in total, the recipients of various forms of support proposed in the project were 102 people, including 75 K and 27 M. The vast majority of the recipients of the activities were seniors, i.e. 89 people.
Thanks to the project activities, by implementing all the activities, 60 people improved their skills in communicating the council''s activities, 45 people improved their knowledge in the field of cooperation with local government, and 43 people improved their skills in the use of digital tools.
In the case of senior communities/council members, in many cases it was possible to organize their knowledge. Seniors gained knowledge of the tools they can use in their activities, regarding cooperation with local governments and other bodies and, above all, how and to what extent they can influence public policies in both municipalities and poviats. In addition to the value and knowledge that participants could gain while participating in the training series, the added value is the relationships that participants established with each other. A group of people was created to exchange experiences, maintain constant contact, participate in training/conferences together (they became more confident and brave) and work for the common good.