About
Europe faces critical challenges: an ageing population, climate change, and digital barriers.
By 2050, the number of people aged 55 or older is expected to rise to 129.8 million, increasing vulnerability to climate impacts, especially heatwaves and diseases. A 2022 European Environment Agency report warns of climate threats to health, while a 2023 Eurobarometer shows that 88% of EU citizens support a greener future. However, many seniors lack the digital skills to access essential information on these issues.
Our project, Body and Earth:
Ecosomatic Practices for Green Aging (BEEPGA), tackles these interconnected challenges by promoting green ageing, digital literacy, and environmental awareness. We integrate ecosomatic practices, linking body awareness with ecological principles, with digital tools to foster well-being and resilience, especially for seniors and those with fewer opportunities.
OBJECTIVES of BEEPGA:
SOME INSIGHTS
Our Mission & Vision
1. Create Opportunities for Newcomers:
Empower grassroots organizations, like VulcanicaMente, Epione, and 4C, by offering learning opportunities. This supports vulnerable groups, particularly seniors (55+), encouraging their participation in lifelong learning.
2. Raise Climate Crisis Awareness:
Increase understanding of the climate crisis and its impacts on health. Through ecosomatic practices, we equip participants to adopt green well-being and ageing strategies.
3. Foster International Collaboration and Capacity Building:
Enhance the capacity of grassroots organizations, enabling them to design practices that meet community needs and sustain these practices long-term.
4. Enhance Digital Capacity:
Improve digital literacy among seniors and adults, helping them access online resources, engage with climate strategies, and participate in community activities. Alignment with Priorities: BEEPGA aligns with key Erasmus+ priorities in both horizontal and adult education sectors:
- Environment and fight against climate change: The project addresses climate change by promoting ecosomatic practices, which support both personal and planetary health, aligning with the priority to combat environmental degradation.
- Addressing digital transformation through development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity: BEEPGA addresses digital exclusion by improving digital literacy and resilience, particularly among older adults, ensuring they can access information and engage with digital platforms.
- Creating and promoting learning opportunities among all citizens and generations: We create inclusive learning opportunities for seniors (55+), focusing on those with fewer opportunities, and fostering intergenerational learning. This aligns with Erasmus+ adult education priorities by empowering seniors to actively engage in lifelong learning and community building.
Through these objectives, BEEPGA supports the Erasmus+ strategy to address pressing environmental, social, and digital challenges, promoting an inclusive, sustainable future
TARGET GROUPS:
Primary Target Groups
SENIORS AND ADULTS(55+):
Residing in San Cesario di Lecce/Lecce, Athens/Tinos, and Panevezys, these individuals face challenges in well-being, digital literacy, and climate change awareness. Often isolated from digital advancements, they have limited opportunities for lifelong learning. Socio-economic factors make them vulnerable, yet their eagerness to improve their quality of life makes them key beneficiaries. The project will enhance their digital literacy and promote green ageing.
TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS:
These professionals often lack tools to address the climate crisis and the digital divide. Many are unfamiliar with ecosomatic practices and green skills but are eager to integrate these approaches into their teaching. This group will multiply the project's impact by passing on knowledge to future generations.
SOCIAL WORKERS:
Social workers engaging with marginalized populations need new methodologies integrating physical mental, and environmental well-being. Ecosomatic practices will strengthen their ability to support vulnerable individuals. This group will be empowered to embed these practices in their daily work.
Secondary Target Groups:
LOCAL COMMUNITIES:
The broader local communities, also affected by climate change, digital exclusion, and ageing- related health issues, are key secondary beneficiaries. The involvement of seniors, educators, and social workers will have a ripple effect, raising awareness of sustainable living and improving digital skills across the population.
INTERNATIONAL ONLINE COMMUNITY:
The project’s reach extends globally through online dissemination of materials and outcomes. This audience includes individuals and organizations interested in green ageing, ecosomatic practices, digital resilience, and climate action. Through webinars, workshops, and social media engagement, we aim to build anetwork committed to a sustainable, healthy future. By empowering these key groups, the project ensures long-term sustainability. Educators and social workers will integrate the knowledge gained into their daily activities, ensuring the project's benefits continue beyond its duration.
Through transnational collaboration, BEEPGA benefits from diverse perspectives and expertise across cultural and environmental contexts. This exchange is essential for developing innovative ecosomatic practices tailored to target groups.
Collaboration expands BEEPGA’s reach, addressing green ageing and digital literacy beyond local communities. This cross-border cooperation amplifies the project’s impact, promoting well-being and environmental awareness across Europe.
Addressing global challenges requires cross-border solutions. Transnational collaboration builds long-term partnerships, ensuring project results are sustainable.
This collaboration fosters innovation through co-created tools and frameworks. Partners will develop an ecosomatic toolkit and a digital literacy framework for seniors.
A key benefit of transnational collaboration is scalability and transferability. By sharing lessons learned, partners ensure BEEPGA’s results are applied in other regions.
Transnational cooperation is key to BEEPGA’s success. By utilizing the expertise and networks of all partners, the project expands its reach, drives innovation, and secures long-term sustainability. This collaboration ensures a lasting impact on green well-being, environmental awareness, and digital literacy across Europe.