This year’s theme focuses on how adult learning and education (ALE) strengthens individual and collective resilience, fosters solidarity, and builds inclusive, connected communities. In times of social, economic, environmental, and democratic challenges, ALE plays a crucial role in empowering learners, supporting communities, and building trust, participation, and cooperation.
We want to celebrate projects that respond creatively to uncertainty, crisis, and change and that show how adult learning can help people and communities not only cope, but thrive. Submit your project and inspire us with your ideas. We’re excited to learn from your experiences!
We invite projects, initiatives, and organisations that resonate with this theme to step forward. This is an opportunity to showcase initiatives that go beyond skills development, demonstrating how ALE contributes to social cohesion and justice, democratic engagement, well-being, and sustainable communities.
We are looking for projects and initiatives that fulfil one or more of the following aims:
- Strengthen individual and collective resilience, including social, emotional, civic, digital, or economic resilience;
- Respond innovatively to societal challenges such as social polarisation, climate change, migration, digital transformation, or democratic decline, and build hope for the well-being of communities and a just future for our societies;
- Foster community-building, social cohesion, and solidarity, particularly across diverse groups and generations;
- Encourage active citizenship, democratic engagement, and mutual support through adult learning;
- Build local learning ecosystems, partnerships, or networks that enhance trust and cooperation;
- Demonstrate how ALE contributes to well-being, belonging, and collective problem-solving.
All participants gain:
- Certificate of attendance
- Appearance in the EAEA Grundtvig Award publication, which will be distributed on EAEA’s website, newsletter and social media channels (applicants filling the application criteria)
Winners gain:
- International visibility for the project on EAEA’s communication channels
- A unique and tangible award
- An exclusive invitation to the EAEA Award Ceremony (all costs related to travel, accommodation and subsistence covered by EAEA)
- A prominent feature in the EAEA Grundtvig Award publication
- Appearance in EAEA’s media release, amplifying the project’s impact at European level.
You may apply under either of the categories below.
- Local, Regional, or National
Projects, initiatives, or partnerships delivered at local, regional, or national level that demonstrate strong and innovative approaches to resilience and community-building through adult learning. - Transnational
Projects, initiatives, or partnerships carried out transnationally that demonstrate strong and innovative approaches to resilience and community-building across borders.
Projects, initiatives, or partnerships can but need not be supported by the European Commission.
The initiative, programme or partnership must have been operational for at least 3 months at the time of application.
Applications must present evidence of outputs, such as reports, a website, learning materials, or other forms of verification.
Finished projects are eligible if they ended within two years of the Grundtvig Award ceremony (June 2026).
Projects may cover any relevant topic in adult learning and education, provided they align with the annual theme.
The applications will be checked against the following criteria:
- Outstanding creativity and innovation
- Relevance to resilience and community-building
- Transferability of the project and its outcomes to other regions and contexts
- Plans and capacity to sustain or upscale the initiative (where relevant)
- Excellence in project presentation (clarity, structure, visuals)
- Effectiveness in achieving stated objectives
- Demonstrated positive impact on learners and communities
- Inclusion of testimonials from learners, educators, or community partners
Please fill in the application form with the following information:
- A description of the project/initiative, including objectives, outcomes, and a breakdown of project facets.
- Explanation of impact, tracking success, benefits to target groups, transferability to other providers/regions, and lessons learned.
- Plans to continue, upscale, or improve in the future.
How to apply?
You may submit your application in English by completing the application form for the Grundtvig Award up until 5 April 2026. It is possible to send attachments (maximum total size 20 MB) with the form.
For inquiries, contact Marina Sakač Hadžić at marina.sakac (at) eaea.org.