EURAG Volunteering of the Babyboomer-Generation and beyond challenges and examples of best practice Silke Brauers, ISAB-Institute General Assembly, European Volunteer Center May 21st, 2005 Cluj, Romania 1
Agenda 1. Introduction 2. Ageing Europe 3. Innovative Volunteer Approaches 4. Projects on International Scale 5. Commonalities and Tendencies 6. Challenges 7. LACE Lifelong Learning and Active Citizenship in Europe s Ageing Society 2
Who we are Institute for Sociological Analysis and Consultancy (ISAB) founded in 1987 (Cologne, Leipzig) applied sociological research and consultancy practice-oriented approach Key areas civic engagement / volunteering civil society age / demographic change Key projects e.g. establishment of local Senior Bureaus in Germany e.g. first German Volunteer Survey (1999) Our partners Federal and provincial ministries, municipalities, other research institutes on national and international scale 3
EURAG EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF OLDER PERSONS European umbrella association of senior citizens organizations: - Non-profit making, - Independent of political parties - Currently 138 member organizations in 32 European countries Founded in 1962, registered in Luxemburg, General Secretariat in Graz / Austria EURAG represents the interests of millions of older people in 32 European Countries www.eurag-europe.org 4
EURAG EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF OLDER PERSONS EURAG Representation of interests - EURAG is a Member of the Platform of European Social NGOs www.socialplatform.org - EURAG has participatory status with the Council of Europe and - consultative status with the UN. 5
EURAG EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF OLDER PERSONS OBJECTIVES - the prevention of any kind of discrimination on grounds of age - the promotion of solidarity between the generations - the maintenance of an independent life - strengthening participation in decision-making - the promotion of self-help - improving older people s quality of life and integration in society - the safeguard of financial security - the development of potentials 6
Ageing Europe The 60+ population in Europe will increase to 35,1% in 2050. 2/3 of the EU population in 2030 won t belong to the working cohort (children under 14 years, Adults older than 65) Average Age in the EU 2005: 35 years (in Africa, Middle East: 20 years) How can elderly people participate in economic and social life ( )? ( ) How can activities employing elderly people in the voluntary sector and the social economy be developed? (Commission of the European Communities, Green Paper Confronting demographic change: a new solidarity between the generations (March 2005) In other words: How can we benefit from an ageing Europe? How can we use the knowledge and experience of older people to strengthen the voluntary sector? 7
Older volunteers tendencies in the EU 1. Diverse situation in EU countries (depending on existing volunteer policies, history and driving forces in each country) 2. Social participation through civic engagement still a blind spot 3. New focus on intergenerational approaches 4. New transitions: Volunteering as strategy to enhance employment and re-employment opportunities for older people? (non-linear life courses) 8
Situation in Germany: Number of older volunteers increasing Intergenerational Projects Campaign 2004-2005 9
Oncoming Generation: Babyboomers 1945-1964 better educated, healthier, wealthier than previous generations higher expectations / demands interested in lifelong learning more individualistic in most countries: less active as volunteers Challenge for the voluntary sector: New Volunteer Roles and Opportunities 10
Benefits for the Voluntary Sector PR / Marketing new memberships / new volunteer concepts Networking New Media Older Volunteers Sponsoring / Fundraising Legal advice and financial consultancy Project development / management 11
I. SESAM Academy (NL) Developed by Netherlands Platform Older People and Europe (NPOE) in 2002, based on example of US Legacy Leadership Institute of University of Maryland Center on Aging (USA) Implemented in 2003; Independent in 2004 Informal education, 12-week course (2 days per week), including 3 weeks practice Training retired corporate managers to become voluntary advisors or coaches for non-profit / voluntary organisations Free of charge; participants commit to providing minimum 80 days of voluntary service Use skills and experience, offer new social network, create new voluntary roles for seniors Non-profits pay minimal fee for this service 12
II. Training for Senior Consultants (BE) Higher Institute for Family Studies (Belgium) Formal, 2-year course (certificate) Focus: improving (job) skills for people interested in ageing population (demands and opportunities) Since 1989: 500 participants 13
III. EFI-Program (DE) Experience-Knowledge for Initiatives (EFI), Germany Model program 2002 2006 Initiated by German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Since 2002: over 600 active seniortrainers providing consultancy and support for NGOs 5 different role profiles Internet Network Local seniorcompetence-teams The EFI-program enables older people to apply their experience and knowledge as qualified seniortrainers to NGOs. 14
Model seniortrainer 1. Consultant of existing initiatives, NPOs 2. Initiator of projects 3. Networker in the voluntary sector 4. Trainer 5. Consultant of seniortrainer-competence-team 15
Project Participants Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth 10 Bundesländer Academic Consultance: ISAB ISG FH Neubrandenburg seniortrainer in 2006: 1000 st (approx.), 28 st in 35 communities 35 Agencies / Broker: agencies for the promotion of civic engagement (contract partners) in 35 municipalities EFI- Committee 12 Educational Institutions 16
Three-Pillar-Approach PR / Project Communication Exchange / Cooperation Interested seniors Qualification Support / Coaching Local agencies Educational institution Local agencies SeniorTrainers SeniorTrainer-Competence-Teams 17
European projects - EURAG TEAMING UP a European Exchange Programme for Older Volunteers Co-funded by the European Commission DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Nov.2004 Oct. 2005 Co-ordination: EURAG Three different actors : -the senior volunteers (Teams of 5 volunteers total: 150!) - NGOs - local and regional governments Countries involved: A, DE, IT, UK, CZ, B Information: www.eurag-europe.org 18
European projects - EURAG TEAMING UP a European Exchange Programme for Older Volunteers Method: bilateral exchanges between towns/regions in 6 different European countries Goals: - strengthening active citizenship of older persons -Intensify collaboration between public authorities at regional / local level with NGOs civil dialogue -Initiate sustainable exchange programmes for older volunteers - Duration of exchange: 3 weeks Information: www.eurag-europe.org 19
European projects - EURAG Still Active exchange programme for older volunteers Co-funded by the European Commission, DG Education and Culture, Grundtvig Programme Nov.2003-2005 exchanges carried out in 2004! Partners : 1.Lunaria Association Co-ordinator, Roma - Italy 2. AVSO Association of Voluntary Service Organisation 3. The Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations 4. Municipality of Roma, (Department of Social Services) 5. Legambiente League for Environment, Roma - Italy 6. EURAG - European Federation of Older Persons 7.The University of Salford- Manchester (United Kingdom) 20
European projects - EURAG Still Active exchange programme for older volunteers Information: www.eurag-europe.org Austrian Volunteer in Eboli, Italy Still Active Project, Summer 2004: Cleaning beaches for Legambiente Environmental protection 21
European projects - EURAG Mobility55 European exchange programme for older volunteers Co-funded by the European Commission, DG Education and Culture, Grundtvig 1 Feb.2002-Sep.2003 Partners: Lunaria Association Co-ordinator, Roma - Italy EURAG - European Federation of Older Persons and partners from France, Spain, Germany Main Product: Time to Volunteer handbook for older volunteers who are interested in international exchange Information available from EURAG (www.eurag-europe.org) and LUNARIA ( www.lunaria.org ) 22
A new volunteer movement? Commonalities of existing programs indirect volunteer services: leadership skills, experience and knowledge as strategic resource for NGOs and communities new volunteer role ( responsibility role ), role-/group identification linkingpersonal benefits with local/international demands as mentors, consultants, coaches important role of qualification (senior education) and exchange network structure 23
Challenges 1. New meaningful roles for social participation older people 2. Modification of organizational structures in NGOs / new interorganizational networks 3. Reducing the gap between voluntary and educational sector 4. Learning from different experiences in the EU, adopting individual approaches 5. Promoting a positive image of the elderly ( Active Aging ) for further integration and recognition 6. Differentiation: age groups, individual challenges within each country, volunteer work and potential reentry to the workforce 24
European Co-operation: LACE Lifelong Learning and Active Citizenship in Europe s Ageing Society (2005-2007) Aims: 1. To increase number of older people actively participating in society 2. To develop new volunteer roles and new approaches to senior education 3. On the long term: To create a positive image of the elderly Outline: Analysis: Potential for improvement and replication of three existing models (Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany) Analysis of status quo and development of pilot projects in Italy, Spain, Slovenia and Ireland Dissemination of expertise and innovative approaches throughout the EU 25
European Co-operation: LACE Lifelong Learning and Active Citizenship in Europe s Ageing Society (2005-2007) Funding: Socrates-Programme, Grundtvig Partners: NPOE (NL) (Co-ord.) Odyssee Group (NL) Higher Institute for Family Studies (BE) ISAB-Institute (DE) LACE AGE Action Ireland (IR) University of Florence (IT) Slovenian Third Age University (SL) University of Granada (ES) Advisory Committee: European Volunteer Center (CEV) AGE Europe European Association for Adult Education (EAEA) 26
Thank you for your attention! Further information: ISAB-Institute Silke Brauers Overstolzenstr. 15 D-50677 Cologne www.isab-institut.de www.efi-programm.de www.seniortrainer.de EURAG www.eurag-europe.org 27