The submitted idea by the coordinator inspired the Spanish partner to create the topic of common interest in this field. Gardening techniques belongs to modern trends of training. One of the positive aspect in this sector is the factor, that the process of learning is not too difficult and not too long what attracts people in different level of education and of course seniors. The other positive aspect is quick and quite good income of the small garden business. That is why both of partners declared that they need to exchange experiences on good practices, how to plant flowers, vegetables, herbs etc in different countries, to develop new skills and explore new techniques. The project is necessary to both participating associations because they want to exploit the gardening resources of their regions while offering a new chance to seniors.
The associations will develop their European profile, while exchanging know-how on practices they already have developed in gardening sector. Both partners come from underdeveloped areas and have different target groups of seniors people who could exploit their life experiences and informal knowledge in order to become amateur gardeners, group leaders in gardening sector, shop assistants etc. This defines the project character as an interdisciplinary one, that is going to offer knowledge, skills and competencies to people who are above 50 years old and to guide them in order to find a new interesting field in their lives.
Trainees (seniors) will acquire knowledge of flower handicraft, botany, morphology of flowers, “survival kit” for vegetable, as well, broader general knowledge of sustainable development related to protection of rare endangered species of gardening around Europe to take general view of European Nature Heritage in order to open their horizons (most of them don’t know anything about that), to feel like people responsible for our future. No less important is improvement of designing, communication, presentation, ICT skills and English language. Learners will practice what they have learned during local project meetings and they will finally be trained in all skills necessary in order to work as assistants/ helping staff of gardens.
The two partners are with different legal status, scope and with geographical balance. Partners have also formed partnerships with other local partners in their regions, in order to disseminate the project idea and to find trainers and supporters with relevant interest in the objectives of the partnership.
Project Gallery
Senior Volunteers
The aim of this partnership is to offer new gardening techniques and to promote the value of informal learning among citizens.
The objectives are:
- to locate good practices in promoting gardening sector,
- to exchange knowledge about styles, methods, techniques of gardening in Europe,
- to prepare didactic materials presenting gardens for different purposes from participating countries as a handbook
- to improve learners’ skills and the quality of their gardens, through informal learning, after research on training needs of learners and needs of gardens sector
- to involve local communities, local authorities
- to create a network between project participants, and other stakeholders in every region and throughout the partnership,
- to learn about Nature Heritage and sustainable development as a general aspect of European collaboration in the context of proposed topic,
Innovative potential of the project: 50 + seniors, sometimes also disabled or unemployed don’t go into training because they are afraid they will not manage learning. Thanks to this project and informal training (education) they will be given the chance to learn and to develop skills that might give them new interesting areas in their lives. They will act as accompanying staff/assistants/volunteers in flower gardens, botanical gardens, local flowery events and transnational meetings.
The expected results and outcomes will be:
- Research on training needs of the learners. Research analysis/ both of the partners
- Small gardens in partners’ countries to plant flowers, vegetable, herbals etc for training activities/ both of the partners.
- Power point presentations about learning and training visits and participation in garden festivals, exhibitions, gardens shows and other events/ both of the partners
- Power point presentations about training sessions for learners in local botanical and flowery gardens, flowery parks, study educational trips / both of the partners
- Informal courses about gardening techniques for different purposes/ both of the partners
- Evaluation forms/ both of the partners
- Joint E-dictionary with garden vocabulary/ both of the partners
- joint E-Album ”Gardens in Europe” made by seniors learners and experts/ both of the partners
Video-film about guided educational trips to European gardens, plantations during mobilities to record good practices for future reference/ both of the partners
Total duration of the project
Start date: 1.08.2012 End date: 31.07.2014
Association for Education and Development of Disabled People
Is an educational non-profit NGO located in the north-east part of Greece where unemployment is one of the highest in the country (up to 16 %). Moreover, many people are forced to apply for early retirement being at age 50+, 55+ due to external reasons (e.g. reduction of working places, closing small and big factories and simply to leave vacancies for the youngest who hasn’t got a job). This socio-economic disadvantage is one of the main reasons for the lower-than-average income house which is a barrier in developing interests and enjoying their lives. Studying the concept of Lifelong Learning and finding new interests is one of the aims that our association has. There is not enough number of vocational educational centers for adults and consequently the early retired people, stagnancy, regress and both intellectual and physical inactivity deters the development of disable and elderly people.
As an answer to this reality ASEDDEDIPE wants to create and support alternative opportunities for vocational education including people without qualification, disabled, seniors and people socially excluded. ASEDDEDIPE aims to make them still active, to improve their competencies, knowledge and employment skills, create new opportunities for their lives. The association tries to make learners/ trainees confident in their knowledge and support their research for new interests. The proposed topic about gardening technique and Grundtvig Senior Volunteering Project subscribes into the strategy of ASEDDEDIPE development and is also the answer on local and regional needs in the sphere of seniors. Thanks to the partnership learners will improve their vocational, logistic, linguistic and technologic skills and will start a new interesting in the gardening sector. The role in the project is to share the knowledge of know-how in gardening techniques, to enhance European dimension of informal vocational education, to make intercultural dialogue, to strength contribution of people who belong to vulnerable groups, share the experience in partnership based on European Projects in Socrates/ LLP.