Partners
Poland
Project coordinator: Fullness-of-Life Academy Association
Poland, Krakow
The Fullness-Of-Life Academy is an association, founded in 2002, acting in support of middle-aged and elderly people. Our goal is to improve the quality of their life by creating a wide range of educational opportunities and arranging their free time. We put special emphasis on giving senior citizens, access to modern computer technology and the achievements of contemporary science and culture. We also aim at changing the negative stereotypes concerning the position and role of elderly people in society, as well as changing their own attitude towards their maturity and age. We strive to create a new image of a Pensioner, who would be up-to-date, independent, and willingly and actively participating in the modern world.
We organize computer classes, language courses, lectures, seminars, memory workshops, discussion groups, club meetings, hobby groups, and whatever else might interest our members or sympathizers. We support and animate all the ideas and grass-root projects of the Seniors themselves, supplying them with premises and technical aid.We also take part in and organize innovative local, national and international educational projects for seniors.
Krakow
Krakow has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish scientific, cultural and artistic life. As the former national capitol with a history encompassing more than a thousand years, the city remains the spiritual heart of Poland. It is a major attraction for local and international tourists, attracting seven million visitors annually.
Krakow is a city steeped in legend, where time flows differently, and where every moment becomes a moment of history.
Poland
Poland (officially the Republic of Poland) - country in Central Europe is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north.
The total area of Poland is 312,679 square kilometers (120,726 sq mi), making it the 69th largest country in the world and 9th in Europe. Poland has a population of over 38 million people, which makes it the 33rd most populous country in the world.
The national habits of Poland are complaining - which I called "political interest" and forcing people to eat and drink - which I called "Polish hospitality".
We have high mountains, a sea, a lot of forests and even a desert.
The capitol of Poland is Warsaw, but in Krakow (the old capitol) we have never accepted this.
Some useful phrases:
- Dzień dobry - good morning
- Tak - Yes
- Nie - No
- Proszę - Please
- Dziekuję - Thank you
- Przepraszam - Sorry
Latvia
Partner: NGO "To My Town Akniste"
Latvia, Akiniste
The NGO has founded The Akniste Adult Education center (2004). It is still the only institution of non-formal education run by an NGO in the area. The Center is open to the local people of all age groups.
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Graffiti made on the wall of the local car service by the participants of the youth creative workshop. |
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A florists' group within the Grundtvig project Arts&Crafts across Europe. |
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At the opening of the exhibition at the project partners in Ulster, Northern Ireland, in 2006. |
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At the lecture on healthy lifestyle. |
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The participants of the project I know and do what I want. |
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| At the discussion Computer in my life on November 21, 2008, within the Grundtvig project ICT as a tool to activate senior education. | |
Aknīste
NGO is located in Aknīste, a rural town in the south-eastern part of Latvia with the advantages and disadvantages of a country boarder area:
- 5 km to the border with Lithuania;
- 150 km away from the capital Riga.
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Wooden sculptures of the Latvian pagan Goddesses responsible for everything both in this and the other world. |
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The Dance group of seniors in the Song and Dance Festival in Riga. |
Latvia - a country on the Baltic sea
Latvia is one of the three Baltic countries, being often called Amberland. You can find pieces of amber roaming along the coast of the Baltic sea, especially after a storm.
Riga – the capital and pride of the people.
The symbols of Latvia are
- dainas – Latvian folksongs, 1.2 million in number, reflecting every aspect of human life from birth to death and expressing the moral and ethic values of the people;
- the Latvian Song and Dance Festivals every four years dating back to 1873. In 2008 about 40 000 singers and dances from all over Latvia came to Riga to take part in the mass concerts;
- the Latvian language – one of the oldest in Europe;
- the river Daugava.
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Some useful phrases:
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Sweden
Partner: PRO Folk High School
Sweden, Gysinge
The Swedish Pensioners Organization - PRO – is a National Pensioners' Organization. It was founded in 1942. PRO is the largest of five pensioners' organizations in Sweden, it has more than 400.000 members (more members than the other four together).
The National Organization is organised in local, municipal and regional bodies. The organization is politically independent and open to all those with some form of pension. The head quarter of PRO is in Stockholm.
The Folk High School in Gysinge, main building.
The PRO folk high school is the national educational centre of the organization. Folk High Schools is an unique and important educational (school) form that has existed more than hundred years among the Scandinavian countries. The folk high schools in Sweden are mainly run by different non-governmental organizations such as trade unions, religious movements, solidarity and peace movements, immigrants, pensioners etc. Every folk high school has its own profile and is therefore in many ways unique. PROs folk high school is the only FHSK in the world for pensioners owned and run by a pensioners organization. In Sweden all folk high schools obtain governmental economic support.
The PRO Folk High School is located in the village Gysinge situated in beautiful surrounding close to the river Dalälven, in part of the municipality of Sandviken in the landscape of Gästrikland. It is two hours drive north of Stockholm outside the city of Sandviken. Sandviken is known as the steel city of Sweden. It was founded more than one hundred years ago around and because of its multinational, worldwide and wellknown company Sandvik.
The educational center of PRO, the Folk High School, is situated in a restored and carefully maintained old industrial village (build up by Walloonian workers) dating from the 17th century. Iron was once produced here using local ore and charcoal from the surrounding forests. It was one of Sweden’s most important ironworks during the 19th Century, production being closed down in 1905.
In 1971 the PRO started a study center in Gysinge, and 1982 the old industrial village became a folk high school.
The school has about 200 courses yearly and about 4.000 participants. The folk high school has both general cources and courses specific for the association – for different functions such as chairman, secretary, treasurer, auditor and others.
Many pensioners have mainly no or little knowledge of computers. For younger generations computers are a natural part of daily life. In Sweden we call this gap between those with effective access to digital and information technology and those without a "digital divide". About 10 years ago computer courses started at the folk high school. 2001 the PRO started a national campaign with study circles organised by the local branches. Study circle leaders are regularly educated at the folk high school. Today about 60.000 pensioners have been educated in this campaign. Still this is only the beginning.
Pensioners learning the computer and Internet at the Folk High
School
Gysinge
The landscape of Gästrikland - where you can find Gysinge and the folk high school - is often called the gate to Norrland. The province uses the slogan "the Iron Kingdom".
Mining and iron production became important industries inte the 5th century. The iron works of Hofors and Sandviken, the later known as the steel city of Sweden, producing today specialized steel and other special metals. Gästrikland has one National park - Färnebofjärden - close to the folk high school.
From the Folk High School area
Sweden
Sweden is the third largest country by area in Western Europe and fourth largest in Europe. With a total population of over 9.2 million Sweden has a low population density of 20 people per km² (52 per square mile). About 85% of the population live in urban areas. Sweden's capital is Stockholm, which is also the largest city in Scandinavia. It has been a member of the European Union since 1995. Sweden has 25 provinces or landskap (landscapes), based on culture, geography and history.
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| The neighbouring National Park | The river Dalälven |
Some useful Swedish words to practice:
- Hej - Hallo
- Ja - Yes
- Nej - No
- Varsågod - Please
- Förlåt - Sorry
- Tack - Thank you
