Description

WINGS+ strives to overcome barriers related to age and gender as intersectional factors of discrimination and to contribute to the inclusion of 550 women over the age of 65 in Germany, Italy, Turkey, Slovenia, and Poland. Through this project, we are creating and developing tools based on European cooperation that enable women to participate, empower themselves, and acquire skills in the areas of digital literacy, the green transition, mass sports, and volunteering within community-based learning and collaborative environments. The project’s goal is to encourage their active participation and greater inclusion in the opportunities offered by European society.

Objectives

  • Overcome barriers related to age and gender.
  • Contribute to the inclusion of 550 women over the age of 65 in Germany, Italy, Turkey, Slovenia, and Poland.
  • To encourage active participation and greater inclusion.

Activities

Project activities include: project management, collecting examples of best practices, conducting an international comparative analysis of professional staff, and creating and developing tools for the inclusion, empowerment, skills development, and guidance of 550 women over the age of 65 in volunteer activities. The project also includes the implementation of counseling, group learning pathways, and internships for 125 participants in collaboration with partner organizations, as well as international learning, teaching, and training activities (LTTA) for 50 participants, along with the awarding of certificates. Throughout the project, activities will be monitored, assessed, and evaluated, and project results—such as digital educational tools, a handbook, and video content—will be developed and disseminated.

Results

  • Strengthened European cooperation
  • A methodology developed to combat age and gender discrimination, and 20 trainers trained
  • A counseling and learning program developed to empower women over the age of 65
  • 550 women aged 65 and older successfully participated in training programs in Germany, Italy, Turkey, Slovenia, and Poland
  • Community-based learning environments and career pathways created in collaboration with more than 100 organizations
  • Certificates awarded to 550 women aged 65 and older, including 50 Europass certificates
  • A set of open educational resources (OER), videos, and a handbook with guidelines developed
  • Project results presented and promoted to more than 1,500 people

Impact on the Environment

The WING+ project is designed to create a long-term impact by integrating its results into the strategic plans, policies, and operational structures of the participating organizations. The project’s sustainability will be ensured through capacity building, institutional integration, policy advocacy, and long-term funding strategies, thereby maintaining its impact even after the project concludes.

  • A “train-the-trainer” approach will be established, enabling individuals trained within the project to train new trainers and multipliers within their own organizations.
  • Partners will integrate the project’s methodologies into their adult education programs, volunteer frameworks, and social inclusion initiatives.
  • Learning pathways, digital empowerment tools, and an inclusion handbook will be permanently available on the partners’ websites for free use and further application.
  • Local stakeholders, including municipalities, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and social services, will be involved in project activities from the outset to ensure shared ownership and long-term commitment.
  • Intergenerational programs will be promoted to connect older women with younger generations with the aim of strengthening social cohesion and knowledge transfer.
  • Recommendations will be developed for policymakers at the local, national, and European levels to integrate gender-balanced social inclusion strategies into aging policies.
  • Partners will collaborate with local authorities to integrate WING+ methodologies into social services supporting women over the age of 65.
  • A public-private partnership strategy will also be explored to involve foundations, businesses, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in funding long-term initiatives for the inclusion of older women.
  • A sustainability coordination group will be established to monitor progress and explore additional funding opportunities.

Partners

Project duration: 1.11.2025 – 31.10.2027, co-funded by the European Union.