Toekomstbewustzijn voor de tweede levenshelft

The goals we had in mind were to deliver high-quality, original, and stimulating adult education activities for people in the third stage of life. We also aimed to develop a generic tool for profe...

The goals we had in mind were to deliver high-quality, original, and stimulating adult education activities for people in the third stage of life. We also aimed to develop a generic tool for professionals who work with older adults or provide adult education, enabling them to easily design activities that foster future awareness and future-oriented thinking. Based on the experiences and outcomes of this project, we wanted to communicate the importance of future awareness in later life—both to older adults and to professionals. Ultimately, our goal is to reach a broader group of older people and offer them a positive and inspiring experience that helps them reflect on and engage with their future.

We investigated existing working methods on future awareness and brought them together in a specific target group-oriented process. This process was tested and adapted to the findings of the target group in between. Different creative working methods were sought for each of the building blocks in the process, to make it as diverse and attractive as possible. The facilitators were trained in giving the sessions. An impetus was given to a promotional communication plan to the target group.

A new, tested and improved tool was created that will lead to more futures literacy among the target group, as well as scenarios to optimize its use. More elderly people have already gained insight into their ideal future and can take steps in that direction and many more will follow. Some facilitators were trained to work with that tool and target group. The network shared the knowledge and experiences gained across borders. More people are aware of this tool through various communication channels (website, posts,...) and can call on it as an individual/organization. The curricula of the universities of applied sciences involved are supplemented with the experiences gained.