The program, launched in 2005, aims at promotion of educational projects and activity of seniors in order to get them socially involved, especially in intergenerational relations. It is carried out mainly by supporting and promoting seniors’ initiatives, by harnessing their potential, knowledge, experience and time to benefit their communities, and by supporting the Third Age Universities’ environment
Under the Seniors in Action competition, grants and training sessions are offered to people over 60 years old who wish to carry out civic intergenerational actions based on their own ideas, individually or in cooperation with young people. The competition is addressed to active senior citizens involved in activities both within the framework of Third Age Universities and in cooperation with various other organizations and institutions.
To date under 13 rounds of the Seniors in Action competition a total of 398 intergenerational projects stimulating seniors to act for the benefit of their neighborhood and promoting senior volunteering were sponsored.
Within the framework of support for Third Age Universities, the program offers training, workshops and an opportunity to share experience at national conferences for TAU representatives. In the period from 2004 to 2012 such nationwide conferences were held in Kraków, Bydgoszcz, Słupsk, Płock, Warsaw, Nowy Sącz and Katowice. Over the years 2011-2013, the program supported also 14 regional meetings of the Third Age Universities. Apart from TAU nationwide congresses, the program supports another event that is important to the TAU environment – the annual Third Age Forum, which is a part of International Economic Forum in Krynica.
Since 2013, Third Age Universities can take part in a series of TAU for Local Communities workshops, which support establishment of voluntary groups at TAUs and cooperation with local communities. A total of 70 TAUs participated in 7 completed rounds of the project, while ten new ones are taking part in its present, 8th round.
Additionally, from 2005 to 2008, under the grant competition addressed directly to the Third Age Universities, 131 grants were awarded for projects improving the quality of the educational offer, including computer and Internet courses enabling the Third Age Universities’ to reach to a wider audience of senior citizens as well as stimulating seniors’ involvement in activities for the benefit of their local communities, particularly through voluntary work.
The Foundation has disbursed $5,493,221, including $236,480 for the current edition of the program.
