Lernen und gesellschaftliche Partizipation im Wohnquartier. Ein europäisches Modellprojekt für bildungsbenachteiligte SeniorInnen

Contemporary society is facing two momentous processes: The first one is leading to an "aging society" due to demographic changes, and the second one involves the crisis of the representative system and a decrease in political participation. In the future, the cumulation of these two problem areas will present one of the fundamental challenges for the educational landscape in general and adult education in particular. A concept of lifelong learning which also encompasses old age can help to master these challenges. This article presents the example of the European educational project "SEELERNETZ – Seniors in Europe Learn in Networks" and shows how lifelong learning and the opening up of possibilities for political participation can be combined in the sense of a "citizenship education for senior citizens". The social space in which people move about on a daily basis is of central importance in this process. As a reflection of social possibilities and restrictions, it provides adult educators with central starting points for eliminating participatory deficits.