The first European project we did together was the one called DANET, carried out in 2011/12 within the programme Europe for Citizens. It gave Open University Zagreb a great opportunity to learn from European partners. Examples of Germany and Slovenia were essential for us as concerns the rise in the quality of life in citizens of the third age due to life long learning. The project proved to be successful resulting in a new network under the same name DANET and we have accomplished several projects and activities in its framework. The wanted Danube, Tastes of Danube, ODDA, Bread connects, Christmas boxes, Building Bridges for Europe International conferences were particularly valuable since they provided an opportunity for third age students to meet their colleagues from other countries with whom they share interests and a preference for life course approach to active ageing and lifelong learning. What we particularly treasure in the DANET network is the continuity of partner cooperation. (Source: Jasna Čurin, U3A- POUZ Zagreb)
Creativity and readiness to learn in old age depends on the expectations of the social environment
Third Age University Zagreb (Public Open University Zagreb) has had a long and successful cooperation with DANET. We have participated in numerous DANET projects let us mention just some of them which had an important impact on objective and subjective quality of life of our older students. Each project was unique. Therefore, no doubt, it attracted different target groups. In The wanted Danube students of the U3A Zagreb were creative and wanted to use their hands. We met once a week, discussed daily problems, drank tea and knitted in common. The atmosphere was nice, and relaxed and their final products were real works of art, an exhibition of their products was set up, so that everyone could see what they had achieved during those few months. Another attractive project was Tastes of Danube. In this project we included many of our different study groups. Students went through cooking books in search of old recipes, posting them on the Facebook page. Groups of English learners translated them, and ICT groups made short videos concerning food tradition in Croatia, while students of art painted food, wine, herbs and made videos about them. And finally, a lot of our students participated in the photo competition. In conclusion I would like to stress that all many of our students were included in these projects though on different levels and in different domains and different roles, thus demonstrating that creativity and readiness to learn in old age are there on condition their environment has expectations towards them and appreciates them. (Source: Dijana Bebek Miletić, POU Zagreb)