frederico amaral

Bucharest, 1 October 2026 In the context of the International Day of Older Persons, marked every year on 1 October, 22 older adults from Bucharest-Ilfov are taking part in a “video civic engagement school”, where they are learning to use mobile phones to create short video stories and reels about various causes and community projects run by non-governmental organizations. The courses and activities with the older participants are part of the “22 Seniors Walk into a Bar and the Rest Goes Viral” project, implemented by the Group for Education and Action for Citizenship (GEAC) and funded through Start ONG, a programme launched by Kaufland Romania and implemented by Act for Tomorrow Association. The initiative is based on the idea that digital inclusion is not only about helping older adults use technology, but also about giving them opportunities to create with it. “When we talk about digital inclusion, we often think of older adults as people who need to learn how to use technology. We wanted to take this a step further. We wanted to see what happens when older adults use technology to create, tell stories and raise awareness of causes that matter,” says Radu Meiroșu, project coordinator and founding member of GEAC. Technology used creatively and through participation This is the shift in perspective proposed by the organization: older adults are not merely passive recipients of content delivered through social media, but become creators and storytellers themselves. During the courses, participants learn how to film and edit using their mobile phones, build short video stories and work as a team. In the next stage, they will create at least 20 reels for NGOs and local community causes. “We don’t just want to teach older adults how to film. We want to give them the opportunity to discover that what they know, what they have experienced and what they can continue to learn can be useful to others. A phone can become a tool that allows you to be seen, to see others and to do something for your community,” adds Radu Meiroșu. What does it mean to live longer in an ageing society? The project is particularly relevant in light of the theme launched by the United Nations for the 2026 International Day of Older Persons: “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives.” At global level, the UN is calling for health systems, long-term care and social protection to adapt, while also promoting opportunities for lifelong learning. This is also the perspective embraced by GEAC. In a society where people are living longer, the issue is not only how long we live, but also what opportunities we have to remain connected, learn, create and contribute. Creation as a form of connection and participation At the same time, the project proposes a form of social prescribing – an approach through which people are connected to activities, groups and resources within their communities that can support social relationships, confidence, participation and well-being. The organization has experience in this field, as the Romanian partner in the European Culture on Prescription project, which explored the role of cultural activities in addressing social isolation among older adults. The current project takes this experience in a new direction: digital creation with a community purpose. Older adults learn together, create together, discover organizations and causes within their communities, and use their skills to produce video stories that can support these causes. In this way, creation becomes a means of connection, participation and contribution. About GEAC The Group for Education and Action for Citizenship (GEAC) is an independent organization that, since 2013, has been developing projects that encourage people to actively participate in community life. In recent years, an important focus of the organization’s work has been building age-friendly communities where older adults are active and included. GEAC initiated projects such as “Visele bătrânilor” (“The Dreams of Older People”) and the Seniorul.ro ecosystem, which brings together the Senior Card programme and the Ghidul Seniorului (“Senior’s Guide”). Senior Card was selected for the Social Innovation and Management Programme 2025, a training and mentoring programme organized by the ERSTE Foundation and the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna). The organization also has European experience in digital skills and older adults’ participation through the Erasmus+ DigitalScouts and Culture on Prescription in Europe (COPE) projects. About Start ONG Start ONG is a programme launched by Kaufland Romania and implemented by Act for Tomorrow Association. The programme supports initiatives in the fields of education, health, environment, social affairs and culture. Its total value is €600,000. The Start ONG programme is the simplest community funding instrument dedicated to young NGOs, non-administrative institutions and informal/initiative groups. Press contact Radu Meiroșu – Project Coordinator0773 723 424 | contact@geac.rowww.geac.ro | www.seniorcard.ro

First Event – May 23, 2025 GEAC organized on May 23, 2025, the first multiplier event for the European DigitalScouts project results, which took place in the heart of the Romanian Capital, Bucharest, starting at 11:00 AM. The event brought together representatives from public institutions in the social field, civil society, seniors, and young people interested in volunteering opportunities. After the welcome coffee and participant registration, the event was opened by Iuliana Iliescu and Radu Meiroșu, who presented the DigitalScouts project results, among which the DigitalScouts Toolkit and Platform. An important moment of the event was the presentation of the City & Co project in Romania, delivered by Loredana Ivan, project coordinator and university professor at SNSPA, Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, Department of Communication, who explained what an age-friendly city means, and the evaluation methodology developed in the City & Co project. Examples of Good Practices in Senior Digitalization The segment dedicated to examples of good practices included valuable presentations from three speakers: Iuliana Iliescu spoke about the PAARnet network and the visit made by representatives of the DigitalScouts project consortium to Vilnius, offering an international perspective on senior digitalization. Manuela Arpinte, from the Royal Margaret Foundation of Romania, presented the senior digitalization program following the Hi Digital methodology, developed by the Vodafone Foundation. This program promotes the acquisition of digital skills as a real solution for improving the quality of life of seniors in Romania, social inclusion, and promoting active aging. Andreea Stefan, from the Day Center for seniors of the CARP Omenia Association, spoke about the digitalization workshops for seniors who are members of the CARP Omenia club, providing concrete examples of practical implementation. The event continued with an intergenerational working group session on the topic “What does participatory and healthy aging mean? Challenges and opportunities in Romania,” followed by the presentation of results and conclusions. The program ended with a light lunch networking session, facilitating the continuation of discussions in an informal setting. Second Event – July 9, 2025 The second multiplier event took place on July 9, 2025, bringing together over 20 invited guests from public institutions specialized in social assistance. Among the participants were representatives from the General Directorates of Social Assistance and Child Protection (DGASPC) from Bucharest, specifically DGASPC District 2 and District 6, as well as from the General Directorate of Social Assistance of Bucharest Municipality (DGASMB). A particularly valuable aspect of this event was the presence of seniors, members of the senior clubs of the mentioned DGASPCs and the Day Center for elderly persons Perla (DGASMB), who brought the direct perspective of digitalization programme beneficiaries. Program of the Second Event Radu Meiroșu from GEAC presented the DigitalScouts project results, highlighting digital opportunities and services for improving quality of life at the silver age. The presentation emphasized the importance of digital participation as an essential condition for improving quality of life in today’s world. Odile Turcu, from the Silver Dawn Association, presented the SeniorFit program, dedicated to active and healthy aging in Romania, demonstrating the complementarity between digitalization and physical activity for a healthy lifestyle at the silver age. The event also included the presentation of the Senior Card program by Radu Meiroșu, a program with beneficial impact on retired seniors and small and medium enterprises in Romania, illustrating how technology can facilitate access to services and economic opportunities. All in all the two multiplier events brought together approximately 40 participants in total, demonstrating the growing interest in senior digitalization and the need for an integrated approach between the public sector, civil society, and the senior community. Context The European DigitalScouts project aims to develop an educational program dedicated to training “digital scouts” – people who support seniors in using digital tools. The project consortium partners developed a complete set of training tools, including methodology, curriculum, training materials, validation and certification tools, training platform, and a training toolkit. All of these are dedicated to facilitators and providers in the field of adult education who wish to support elderly citizens in using digital tools and opportunities.

How can digital inclusion be achieved for older people – especially for those who have had little or no access to the digital world so far? This question was at the centre of the final event of the EU-funded project DigitalScouts, held on 25 June 2025 in Bad Schwalbach, Germany. The event was hosted by the care centre of the Rheingau-Taunus district, in cooperation with the project team from the ISIS Institute for Social Infrastructure and Berufswege für Frauen e.V., who implemented the DigitalScouts project in Germany. Diverse perspectives: administration, civil society, education and volunteering in dialogue Around 22 external participants took part, representing local government, politics, social associations, adult education providers and both voluntary and professional adult learning initiatives – many already active within the network for digital inclusion. The event offered space for practical input, real-world challenges and direct dialogue from the field. One thing became clear early on: digital learning opportunities must reflect the everyday realities of older people. Generating interest, demonstrating practical value and lowering barriers were recurring themes in the discussions. A key message echoed throughout: not technology for its own sake – but as a tool to improve individual quality of life. Reaching target groups – but how? One focus of discussion was how to reach older adults who are less familiar or comfortable with digital tools. Low-threshold, interest-based formats were emphasised – such as embedding digital topics into everyday social and cultural settings like shared meals, community meetups or informal discussion groups. Participants also pointed out the importance of trusted institutions: organisations like the Red Cross were seen as having a credibility advantage, which can be essential for establishing new digital education offers. At the same time, it was underlined that digital participation should remain a choice. Those who consciously opt out of using digital tools should be respected in that decision, without pressure or judgment. International insights from Austria The Austrian Red Cross contributed a vivid example from practice. There, trained digital scouts not only completed workshops but also began offering one-on-one digital support directly to older individuals. Selda Özcan, from the Red Cross in Freistadt, shared her experience from one of the pilot locations. A video clip from Austrian broadcaster ORF illustrated one such individualised learning session. These inputs offered valuable insight into how to tailor learning formats to individual needs and preferences. Structural questions: who carries responsibility? Another key issue was the question of sustainable structures and funding models. While projects like DigitalScouts provide a strong foundation, long-term access to digital support requires institutional commitment. There was broad agreement that high-quality, no-cost learning opportunities should not depend solely on volunteer work. A further example was presented by Torsten Anstädt of HumaQ gGmbH with “Die Gute Stunde” – an online programme offering cultural activities for older people. Here too, it became clear that sustainable digital participation needs both funding and societal recognition of digital access as a fundamental right. The event showcased the value of collaboration between education providers, local authorities, civil society and volunteers. The openness to dialogue and cooperation, combined with clearly articulated needs, left no doubt: digital inclusion for older adults must continue to be supported – in ways that are practical, accessible, and where possible, free of charge.

The final official Transnational Project Meeting of the DigitalScouts project took place from 2 to 3 July in Frankfurt, Germany, beautifully hosted by ISIS Institut für Soziale Infrastruktur, in the welcoming Ökohaus Building. As the project nears its conclusion, the partners gathered to reflect on the impressive progress made over the past two and a half years, while also addressing the final elements still in development. Key points of discussion included the remaining improvements to the DigitalScouts online platform, the finalisation of the Toolkit and its translations, and the structure and visibility of project results on the official website. A special focus was placed on the integration of a certificate within the platform, which will recognise and validate the learning of future digital scouts. The Communication and Dissemination Report was also presented, outlining key measures needed to ensure the effective dissemination and visibility of the DigitalScouts results. To support long-term impact, partners also carried out a SWOT analysis to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to the sustainability of project outcomes. This exercise aims to ensure that the DigitalScouts approach not only reaches a broader audience but can also be replicated across different regions and contexts. 

On May 29th, the DigitalScouts National Multiplier Event in Portugal took place in the city of Porto, as part of the Conference on ‘Innovation and Sustainability: The Grand Societal Challenges,’ co-organized by the University of Porto and SHINE 2Europe.   This event brought together nearly 100 participants, including educators, innovators, researchers, and policymakers, both in person and online. Organized by the project partner SHINE 2Europe, this event is one of a series of national multiplier events taking place across all partner countries, marking a key milestone as the project nears its conclusion.  In addition to presenting the DigitalScouts project’s objectives, methodology, and key outcomes, the event placed a strong focus on showcasing the training platform, a free and accessible online tool designed to equip potential digital scouts with the knowledge and resources needed to promote digital literacy among older adults and intergenerational learning.  During the session titled “Warm-up Teasers – Innovation Ready to Adopt”, Angela Freitas (from SHINE 2Europe) introduced the project and its major achievements. These included: National Reports on digital literacy among older adults, a Compendium of Good Practices from across Europe and the Training Platform and Toolkit.   Afterwards, Inês Saavedra (from SHINE 2Europe) led a live demonstration of the training platform, offering attendees a hands-on experience of its interactive modules, covering essential topics such as digital basics, communication strategies, digital opportunities in health, culture, and social engagement, as well as tools for adapting training to different target groups and transforming training ideas into business models.  These multiplier events represent a pivotal moment in the project’s final phase, helping to share its achievements and extend its impact among target audiences in each partner country.  The DigitalScouts Training Platform is now available online at https://digitalscouts.eu/entrance/ offering open access to the training. A teaser video introducing the platform can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tetujlQA12Y  

  On May 29, 2025, the DigitalScouts project will have its National Multiplier Event in Portugal, hosted by SHINE 2Europe, as part of the Conference “Innovation and Sustainability: The Great Social Challenges” at the University of Porto. This dynamic event will not only highlight the results and impact of the DigitalScouts project but will also feature a broad array of innovative projects addressing today’s most pressing issues – ranging from health and artificial intelligence to ethics, social and digital literacy, inclusion, environmental sustainability, urban planning, and climate change. The DigitalScouts project will be featured in two key moments of the conference program: This Multiplier Event is an excellent opportunity for educators, innovators, researchers, and policymakers to connect, collaborate, and draw inspiration from initiatives advancing sustainability and digital inclusion across Europe. More information can be found here. Registration is free but mandatory. Secure your spot! Conference registration form  

  As part of its commitment to sustainability, the DigitalScouts project has taken concrete steps to offset the carbon footprint generated by international travels for transnational project meetings. The project donated €500 to the environmental NGO Asociația Pădurea Copiilor (Children’s Forest Association), supporting their Community Treenursery initiative in Ploiești, one of Romania’s most polluted cities. The Community Treenursery project brings together around 100 local residents, engaging them in collaborative tree planting and environmental education. Notably, the initiative was intergenerational: 32 seniors from the Ever Alone Day Centre and 70 high school students from two Ploiești schools worked side by side, cultivating not just trees, but also meaningful relationships across age groups. Special thanks to our Romanian partner, GEAC (Asociația Grupul de Educație și Acțiune pentru Cetățenie), whose dedication and coordination made this initiative possible. Through this partnership, DigitalScouts contributes not only to digital literacy but also to fostering community bonds and environmental awareness among different generations.  

  The DigitalScouts consortium travelled to Vilnius, Lithuania, to host a session within the PAAR-net Training School at 1 April and the event “PAAR-net experience: Collaboration in Practice: Technology and Innovation Research Beyond Boundaries” on 2 April. The events, organised by the COST Action PAAR-net, focused on participatory co-creation methods with older adults. Aimed at PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, young innovators, and policymakers, the programme equipped participants with practical skills to engage older adults in research, project design, and policymaking. Recognising the strong alignment between the goals of DigitalScouts and the Cost Action’s theme, the consortium took this opportunity to host their European Multiplier Event. It was also a valuable occasion to invite special guests from each partner country, fostering networking and exploring future collaboration opportunities. Among the guests were the Head of the Social Development and Health Division at Pombal Town Hall (Portugal), representatives from HumaQ (Germany), CARP Omenia (Romania), and PlatformVmZ (Netherlands). All of them have been interviewed to provide brief feedback on the DigitalScouts project for another promotional video. The training school session featured a presentation of the DigitalScouts project, the launch of a promotional video introducing the e-learning platform, and insightful reflections from each partner on their co-creation experiences during the training phase. The event concluded with a hands-on session, where participants explored the platform directly on their smartphones, gaining first-hand experience of its features and intuitive design. In the afternoon of the first day, the consortium visited the Vilnius Country Public Library where a variety of initiatives were presented – many of which resonated with the objectives of DigitalScouts, particularly in promoting digital inclusion and active participation among older adults.  

  The DigitalScouts International Multiplier Event will take place on April 1, 2025, organised alongside the PAAR-net Training School on Participatory Co-Creation Methods at Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania. This collaborative event not only showcases the outputs of the DigitalScouts project but also emphasises participatory approaches as a foundation for fostering inclusive digital literacy among older adults. The DigitalScouts session will focus on the methodology of participatory co-creation and explore how it has influenced the design, development, and technical implementation of the digital educational offer aimed to qualify “digital scouts” to support older people in the use of digital tools. Emphasis will be placed on how the digital training is being tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of both trainers and learners. The PAAR-net Training School, running from March 31 to April 2, 2025, will deliver intensive training on participatory co-creation methods. Participants will gain hands-on experience, learn from international experts, and connect with peers passionate about social innovation and inclusive ageing societies. Designed for PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, young innovators, and policymakers, the Training School aims to empower participants with participatory methods to engage older adults effectively in research, projects, and policy development. This is a valuable opportunity to explore under-researched areas in informal caregiving and the needs of adults requiring care. Financial support is available for eligible participants to cover travel, accommodation, and related expenses. Applications are open until January 15, 2025. Further details can be found on the PAAR-net website: https://paar-net.eu PAAR-Net is an EU-funded COST Action (CA22167: Participatory Approaches with Older Adults) focused on reshaping how older adults are involved in scientific research, policymaking, and practice. By fostering inclusive social innovation, PAAR-Net harnesses the knowledge and experiences of older adults, particularly those at risk of social exclusion, to address the complex challenges of ageing societies. The network brings together academics, young and older innovators, and experts from across Europe and beyond.1  

DigitalScouts project was presented by Angela Freitas, representing SHINE 2Europe, at the Gerontology Days 2024 – International Scientific Conference. This event, held online, was co-organised by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Debrecen, Hungary, and the Department of Gerontology and Dementia Studies at the University of Malta.   The presentation entitled “The role of digital scouts in promoting digital literacy and participation among older adults” highlighted the co-creation process behind the design, development, and technical implementation of the DigitalScouts digital training programme. Emphasis was placed on how the programme is being tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of both trainers and learners.  The Gerontology Days International Conference is an annual event that offers a valuable platform for educators, researchers, and practitioners to exchange knowledge and present their work on ageing from a variety of perspectives, including physiology, social science, psychology, lifelong learning, public health, and policy.