Solidarity and education know no borders. From June 5th to 12th, 2026, Training 2000 is hosting a Group Mobility of Adult Learners “Cultural Integration for Seniors,” under the Erasmus+ programme. The group consists of 16 educators and volunteers from the Kaunas Third Age University (Lithuania)
The core objective of this mobility initiative was to bring European adult learners together to share best practices in lifelong learning and active ageing. On June 8, 2026 Training 2000 organized a field visit at AUSER Fano headquarters. This structured exchange allowed both organizations to compare their educational methods, share cultural perspectives, and discuss how community involvement keeps the third age dynamic, purposeful, and fulfilling.
From National Vision to Local Impact
To give the Lithuanian educators a clear view of how active ageing is structured in Italy, the meeting opened with a look into AUSER’s history. Founded nationally in 1989, AUSER was established to promote the active role of older adults in society and combat social exclusion through solidarity and continuous growth.
The focus then shifted to how these principles are translated into daily local action. Our Lithuanian guests discovered the impressive reach of AUSER Fano and it’s core services.
AUSER’s Core Services: Lifelong Learning Through Community Service
A major takeaway of the mobility was exploring how community service itself acts as a powerful form of informal lifelong learning for senior volunteers. AUSER volunteers presented the concrete daily activities they perform to support vulnerable community members, which serve as excellent models for active citizenship:
- 🚗 Social Transportation: A mobility service within the Fano municipality to accompany seniors to medical appointments, therapies, or essential errands, ensuring their continued autonomy.
- 📦 Home Delivery: Direct doorstep delivery of daily hot meals, groceries, and vital medications for individuals who face difficulties leaving their homes.
- ❤️ Moral Support & Well-being Check-ins: Regular, friendly communication to actively combat loneliness, offer emotional reassurance, and monitor the overall well-being of local seniors.
Institutional Welcome: Discovering Municipal Services for Seniors
The international delegation was officially welcomed by Lucia Tarsi, the Councilor for Culture, Cultural Heritage, Libraries, Social Services of Fano.
During this institutional encounter, Councilor Tarsi provided an overview of the Municipality of Fano’s strong commitment to its older demographic. She detailed the local welfare system and specialized projects managed through ATS6 (Ambito Territoriale Sociale n. 6). ATS are institutional networks used in Italy to manage and deliver local welfare and social services.
A major part of ATS’ role is to act as a coordinator for what is known in Italy as the Terzo Settore (the Third Sector)—which includes volunteer networks, social co-operatives, and NGOs. The ATS maps local needs, secures regional/national funding, and partners with these local organizations to execute daily services (such as meal deliveries, social transportation, and civic engagement projects).
By showcasing the local resources available via Ambito Sociale Fano, our Lithuanian guests gained valuable insights into how public local administration and specialized social services work hand-in-hand to safeguard the rights, dignity, and autonomy of senior citizens.
Joining Forces for an Inclusive Future and the STEP Connection
The encounter between the dedicated volunteers of Fano and the educators from Kaunas demonstrated that retirement can be a chapter of profound social impact. Both organizations strongly agreed that European lifelong learning initiatives and volunteering are essential tools to keep the mind sharp, pass down knowledge, and preserve mental and physical well-being.
“Active ageing is not just a theoretical concept; it is built day by day through community care, mutual support, and cultural exchange.”
This successful mobility perfectly aligns with our ongoing work at Training 2000. We have a close collaboration with AUSER Fano through the STEP project (Senior Tutoring – Educator Professionalization)—an Erasmus+ initiative designed to upskill adult educators and empower senior citizens across Sweden, Greece, France, Germany, and Italy. AUSER Fano operates as an active local working group dedicated to implementing the STEP workshops about the project’s 5 core educational modules: Lifelong Learning, Digital Literacy, Health, Social and Economic Inclusion, Active citizenship. This implementation demonstrated to the Lithuanian guests how a local volunteer network can become a powerful vehicle for delivering structured European educational frameworks to the community level.
Seeing the best practices shared during this week reminds us why our work with the STEP project is so vital. By connecting international adult learners and local networks, we continue to bridge the gap between European educational frameworks and real, grassroots community action.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to Councilor Lucia Tarsi, the delegation from Kaunas Third Age University, and to all the AUSER Fano volunteers for making this week an unforgettable example of European solidarity!
