19.08.2015 development, sustainability

“For us development is a very broad concept”

ADULT EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT. EAEA’s Belgian member organisation supports projects that alleviate poverty, promote lifelong learning and enhance basic skills. Their development work is targeted at people living in Belgium.

Afdeling Sociaal-Cultureel Werk voor jeugd en volwassenen (Department for Social-Cultural Work), part of the Ministry of Youth, Culture, Sports and Media, gives subsidies to organisations that work in the field of development in Flanders.

“All of them work within Belgium. That means that we are not talking about North-South development cooperation but about the needs of people in Belgium, and how to fulfil these – sometimes very basic – needs,” says Arent Maes from the Department for Social-Cultural Work.

Sustainable development for all ages

The project ‘Ik vind the aarde leuk’ (‘I like the earth’) is a best practice example for the promotion of sustainable development.

“Senior citizens learn how to incorporate sustainable practices of consumption, travelling, transport etc. in their own lives, and how to give this information further to their children and grand-children,” tells Mr. Maes.

Over 1000 local groups in Flanders, all working with volunteers, work in this project. To reach out to the target audience, the volunteers meet the elderly persons at social meeting points, for example bingo-afternoons and popular restaurants.

Fostering integration

Vormingplus, another successful project supported by the agency, promotes activities that stimulate participation in society. It offers learning opportunities in which adults can develop their personal, social and cultural competences.

“This project reaches out to immigrants who have lived in Belgium for some time already or who just arrived and need help to find their way in Belgian society,” elaborates Mr. Maes.

“Although these projects are implemented in Belgium, they have a big transfer potential for other countries. Our ultimate goal is to give people better chances to succeed in life, and to create a sustainable change of society. Education takes center stage in achieving sustainable development,” he states.

Development is one of EAEA’s themes for 2015. Adult education is a key for achieving social change and reducing poverty levels around the world.

Text: Raffaela KihrerPhotos: OKRA

News

More news >
01.07.2025 digitalisation

Building national ALE registries to support individual learning accounts

RALExILA is a strategic initiative to investigate and strengthen the structures that support adult learning (ALE), with a particular focus on the potential of Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs). New research report provides overview of how 10 European countries structure their ALE systems through financial incentives, management frameworks, quality standards and registries of learning opportunities.

27.06.2025 Gender Equality Task Force

Flexibility is key for the inclusion of women into the labour market

On 27 June 2025, EAEA, EARLALL and EfVET co-organised an online webinar called “Inclusion of unemployed women into the Labour Market”. The webinar  gathered 28 participants to hear about good practices and policies across Europe, which highlighted the role of flexible learning pathways for true inclusivity.

26.06.2025 active ageing

Active Ageing: European frameworks and progress

Europe is experiencing a demographic change without precedent, with a rapidly ageing population that presents both challenges and opportunities for European societies. Within this context, the concept of "active ageing" must be increasingly central to EU policy.