EU4All: Experiences and Their Utilization for All Erasmus+ Project

In response to the demographic shifts across the European Union, the “EU 4 All” project reimagines the role of senior citizen centres. Moving away from the traditional model of passive service provision, this initiative seeks to transform these local meeting points into dynamic environments for active citizenship. The project is rooted in the belief that senior citizens, along with the staff and volunteers who support them, possess a wealth of experience that remains an untapped resource for social cohesion and community development. The implementation period of this project is 24 months, starting from 01.11.2025 to 31.10.2027.

The strategic framework of “EU4All” is built upon four primary pillars. It emphasises the professionalisation of adult education by elevating the competencies of volunteers and full-time staff through the integration of modern pedagogical tools tailored to the needs of the elderly. The project also focuses on empowerment and social ownership, moving beyond mere attendance to active participation, ensuring that visitors of these centres are equipped to take on leadership roles within their local communities. In addition, EU4All fosters cross-border synergy by facilitating high-level exchanges of best-practice models, particularly between established structures in Germany and innovative social models in Poland, Italy, and Romania. Finally, it seeks to standardise senior-friendly learning by developing a universal set of principles for small-scale, application-oriented further education that can be adapted by any senior centre across Europe.

The 24-month implementation of the project is structured around a series of interconnected activities. It begins with structural mapping, during which partners conduct a rigorous internal review of their current methodologies and operational structures. This phase culminates in a comprehensive Status Quo Report that identifies gaps in adult education and highlights unique strengths that can be shared across the network. Based on this initial audit, partners then design and execute qualitative pilot projects in their local centres. These small-scale, high-impact educational initiatives test innovative ways of engaging seniors in civic life, with every step carefully documented to create a practical guide for future centres. In the final phase, the project focuses on transnational dissemination to ensure sustainability, transferring the results and methodology to regional and European networks so that EU4All continues to influence adult education policy long after the funding period.

Financed by the Nationale Agentur Bildung für Europa beim Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (Germany), the consortium brings together the following partners:

IC2 (Integration und Cooperation – Internationale Communication gUG) – the lead partner from Germany is a non-profit organisation specialised in social integration, neighbourhood development, and vocational education for vulnerable groups. Led by a management team with over 25 years of experience in EU-funded projects, the organisation currently serves as the lead partner in initiatives focused on cross-border knowledge exchange and professionalising staff competencies within senior care and community centres.

“Villa Decius” Association (Poland), established in 1995, is a non-governmental organisation and cultural institution that supports, develops, and promotes art and literary activity, as well as international cultural and intellectual cooperation.

Provincia di Livorno Sviluppo (Italy) is a local public organisation with the mission of implementing policies useful for local, sustainable development on behalf of its shareholders, the Province of Livorno and the Livorno Port authority. It has a wide and consolidated experience in regional, national and EU projects management and coordination, among which Erasmus+;

The National Federation “OMENIA” of the Pensioners’ Mutual Help Associations in Romania is currently one of the largest, most representative, and most active umbrella organisations dedicated to older people in the country. It plays a key role in defending their rights, promoting social and financial inclusion, and supporting a dignified and active ageing.