Lifelong Learning and Volunteering (BELL)

Lifelong learning is also of great importance in old age, to keep up with changes (such as digitalization, climate change, globalization) and to maintain social participation.

With the ESF Plus programme BELL, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth supports projects that help to realize the potential of lifelong learning for older adults. The participant-oriented program is aimed at all people aged 60 and over who want to contribute their skills in education and volunteering.

The goals of the programme are to increase educational activities of older adults both as learners and as knowledge providers by:

• expanding educational opportunities for older people quantitatively,
• qualitatively improving educational opportunities for older people by better aligning educational formats and topics with the preferences and skills of older adults,
• creating inclusive and diverse educational opportunities that cater to the diversity of older people.

Overall, the program contributes to improving the social participation of older people, maintaining their health, independence, and quality of life, utilizing their accumulated expertise, and promoting the potential of older people for innovation and volunteering.