While cities and metro­po­li­tan areas offer a wide range of edu­ca­tio­nal oppor­tu­ni­ties and provide many lifelong learning oppor­tu­ni­ties, access to appro­pria­te education and learning oppor­tu­ni­ties is often more difficult in rural areas. But here too, there are many inspiring initia­ti­ves and projects that help to create learning com­mu­ni­ties that are inclusive, open and promote shared learning. Shared learning in par­ti­cu­lar helps to use the expe­ri­en­ces of others and to pass on one’s own expe­ri­en­ces in order to open up new thematic fields.

In order to present these initia­ti­ves, the EPALE teams from Austria, Belgium (NL), Finland, France, Germany, Hungary and Poland are dedi­ca­ting this thematic week to the topic of learning com­mu­ni­ties in rural areas. 

Together we want to look at rural areas and explore what inno­va­ti­ve solutions adult education offers to promote lifelong learning in rural areas: How do lifelong learning initia­ti­ves in rural areas streng­then demo­cra­tic struc­tures and civic enga­ge­ment? How is political education taught there? How can media literacy be taught in inter­ge­ne­ra­tio­nal learning communities?