Introduction

Partners: Finland 2 (coordinator Wellamo), Iceland, Germany, Belgium

Päivi Levola      Wellamo Community College, Finland

Amal Tamimi      Equality Centre, Iceland

Wolfgang Eberhardt     Institut für deutsche Sprache

Melissa De Clippeleer      Volkshogeschool Gent-Eeklo vzw

Ulrike Kalmbach      Volkshochschule Nördilcher Breisgau

Juha Mäkirinta      Vanajavesi Adult Education Centre

Thematic orientation: While we work in slightly different environments using different skills and methods we hope to learn from each other’s good practice. This partnership aims to work with immigrants towards removing the barriers to participate in civil and social activities.

Objectives: As organizers with adult learners we aim to share our learning. We hope to achieve this by:

·         Shared Learning on methods

·         Good practice

·         Experience

·         Knowledge on immigration issues

·         Support networks

·         Sharing the knowledge about the impacts of policies and laws on the lives of the immigrants in different European countries.

The problem we have identified is that immigrants are not as actively involved as they might  be in socially. The issue is, what are the barriers that are preventing them from getting involved. As adult educators with immigrants what can we do.

Through the partnership meetings and sharing the experiences we plan on learning from each other.

Target audience: Adult educators who work with immigrant adult learners.

Participation: Focus on adult education organizers and staff

Main outcomes in the adult learning workplace:

For partners: improving our expertise, skills and knowledge on working towards greater civic participation of immigrants locally. Looking at practices and approaches from the different perspective, of other partners with a view of improving one’s own practice.

 For learners: building skills, knowledge and confidence to engage and get education in civic and social activities.

Multiplier effects: disseminate learning through local and national adult education networks.

Work plan:

·         Set up a blog for communication and learning (Iceland)

·         Evaluation as a way of working (responsibility Ireland)

·         Identification of shared issues

·         Four project meetings

·         Applying and evaluating the impact of learning between meetings

·         Dissemination of international good practice through local and national adult education networks

·         Organization of visits to relevant adult education projects partner countries