International Day of Older Persons is observed on 1 October worldwide to recognise the contributions of older people and raise awareness of their quality of life, health, social inclusion and opportunities to participate fully in society.
To mark International Day of Older Persons, senior learning centres in several Latvian cities and municipalities are holding events to celebrate the start of the new academic year. Older people can explore the courses on offer and register for a variety of activities covering digital skills, health promotion, culture, civic participation, financial literacy, labour market developments and other topics relevant to everyday life.
The senior learning programme supported by the Ministry of Welfare currently involves 25 senior learning centres, offering free courses to people aged 65 and over. Initially, just under EUR 1 million was allocated to support 25 centres. In response to strong demand and the important role these centres play in developing local communities, funding was increased to EUR 1.5 million, enabling support for an additional 10 centres – two in each of Latvia's five planning regions.
The Ministry of Welfare encourages older people to take advantage of the opportunities offered by senior learning centres and discover that learning, community engagement and personal development are possible at every stage of life.
Imants Lipskis, Director of the Labour Market Policy Department at the Ministry of Welfare, emphasises:
“A senior learning centre is more than just a place to acquire new knowledge. It is an environment where people can stay curious, meet like-minded individuals and continue to play an active role in society. Lifelong learning offers everyone, regardless of age, the opportunity to develop their skills, share experiences and improve their quality of life. Senior learning centres also play an important role in promoting active and healthy ageing by providing opportunities to gain new knowledge, develop skills and strengthen social connections.”
The development of senior learning centres in Latvia began several years ago as a community initiative that has since grown into an important movement promoting lifelong learning and social participation. Today, senior learning centres across Latvia provide spaces where older people can acquire new skills, engage in community life and build active, connected communities.
The project “Support for Social Entrepreneurship” is implemented with the support of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) under the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027.
