ABC of ALE 2026

The European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) is a non-profit international network with 120 member organisations in 43 countries and represents more than 60 million learners Europe-wide. Our purpose is to link and represent European organisations directly involved in adult learning, at the EU and European levels.  We are supported by a secretariat of 10 passionate individuals based in Brussels, with expertise in advocacy, policy analysis, project management, capacity-building and training. You can find out more about EAEA here. 

Crescendo CVO is an adult education center that offers over 80 courses across 9 campuses and 46 locations in Mechelen–Lier–Berlaar–Zaventem–Tervuren–Halle–Sint-Genesius-Rode region in Belgium. We provide daytime and evening courses on campus, as well as online and parttime remote classes. Crescendo CVO organizes formal adult education on behalf of the Flemish government and is part of a network of nine other large adult education centers, which enables broad dissemination and uptake of project results. CVO Mechelen is part of the GO! network, an EAEA member. GO! organises official education in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. It is an autonomous body of the Flemish government which functions independently of the Flemish Minister of Education. You can find out more about CVO Crescendo here.

Raffaela Kihrer is Secretary General at the EAEA and has extensive experience in advocacy and policy on adult learning and education at the European and international level, with a particular focus on citizenship and development. She is also an elected Vice-President of the Lifelong Learning Platform which brings together all sectors of education. Her background is in International Development Studies, and she is a trained teacher in secondary school education and adult learning

Charlotte Ede is EAEA’s Capacity Building and Project Coordinator she supports EAEA’s work by preparing events, training courses and study visits in the scope of EAEA’s capacity-building work. She manages EAEA’s role in EU-funded projects, particularly for the green transition. She holds an MA in European Studies from KU Leuven, as well as a BA (Hons) in French and Arabic from the University College London.

Greta Pelucco is Senior EU Public Affairs Coordinator at EAEA. With a background in human rights, diplomacy, and corporate sustainability, she navigates European institutions to advance policies linking education, democracy, and social change. She is specialized in political analysis. Her work examines how power operates through learning systems, how education can shape awareness or serve political agendas and turns this insight into strategies that strengthen civic participation and democratic resilience across Europe.

Marina Sakač Hadžić EAEA’s Communications and Capacity-Building Officer manages EAEA’s internal and external communication and supports EAEA’s project communication. In capacity-building she supports members and helps facilitate trainings and other EAEA events. Marina has an MSc in Social and Cultural Anthropology from KULeuven, interested in gender studies she brings her academic and professional experience to build effective communication.