Changing direction at a later age is not easy, because the main changes are often pre-established. Who would like to deviate from the comfortable paths of habit? And where does the new direction lead? Perhaps to a No Through road?It was to discuss this subject that we met together in Rüsselsheim in Germany. The meeting formed a part of the large European project “Changing Track in the Third Age”, begun by Rosemarie Kurz of Gefas, Graz in Austria together with European partners the People’s University of Rüsselsheim, A.I.D.A. of Perugia, Italy, and Senior Studies of the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. The seminar was organised with great care and professionalism by Iris Bergmiller and Inge Müller of Rüsselsheim and was an important experience for Scottish, Italian, German and Austrian women. We discussed new housing models for later life, as for example the project presented by women in Düsseldorf/Mettmann, to realise a new housing estate for all generations or the project “Solidarity Housing” in Graz.Other new ways of living one’s later life were presented by various groups of Rüsselsheim women, such as “Women and Creativity”, “New Roads for Later Life”, and the “Seniorenakademie”, an active circle of older women and a project on the menopause.An address by Silvia Kada from an adult education organisation in Frankfort was most interesting: “At the heart of training for older men or women lies learning how to age”. Later life represents a time of life without work and with much free time, this “gift” can become a new commitment, which must be organised and prepared for beforehand. Education for older people can and must give them a hand to live their later lives actively and joyously.

The European Union programme Leonardo, which co-finances the exchange of male and female educators, has given us the opportunity to compare experiences between AIDA, Perugia, the People’s University of Rüsselsheim and Arran Textiles in Scotland. The objectives of the exchange are:- to work out educational models for intergenerational learning by children and older women. The older women pass on their knowledge and traditional skills to young people of both sexes and in exchange learn how to use a computer.- to produce of a CD-ROM documenting weaving techniques, to be used by schools and libraries.- to work out a training programme for professional qualifications in passing on older women’s skills to younger generations. A data bank of older women’s skills will be worked on during the course.

Back to the General Contents