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established professional adults aged 50+ will be trained as mentors. Nine hubs will be set up in
Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, and Poland.

The mentors will assist young people between 18 and 30, in developing professional skills and
entering labour market throughout the EU and beyond. The matching of mentors with mentees will
be done through a digital platform. A minimum of 120 mentees will be able to register on the

platform, be matched with their mentors and participate in a 6-month mentoring program. The goal
of the project is to encourage younger professionals to become more involved in the community
and to invest in the wisdom and experience of older professionals for the benefit of the society and
the economy. The project partners seek to foster intergenerational understanding and solidarity
through cooperation. This will also contribute to the mental well-being of the two groups.

Through pan-European, cross-border and cross-generational mentoring the adult learners will be
able to gain valuable insights into challenges and intricacies of today’s labour market, which will
help them become confident professionals. The program is a continuation of successful pan-
European mentoring projects from the past, such as EvolYou, and can itself serve as a blueprint for
future forms of cross-border cooperation in the field of adult learning.

2.7 ROMANIA - EPALE

Most adult education organisations that were involved in the implementation of the project in
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Romania are medium sized and act locally to serve the needs of the local adult communities and
have limited resources. These organisations are interested in the participation in Pan-European
mentoring or professional development schemes that could benefit them in many ways.

The Erasmus+ program is a European Union initiative that supports education, training, youth, and
sport. It is the best known and accessed programme since it provides opportunities for individuals
and organizations to engage in various learning and professional development activities, including
exchanges, training courses, and strategic partnerships across Europe.

EPALE, the Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe is well known as well as a source of
inspiration and networking since it facilitates the exchange of knowledge and best practices among
teachers, trainers, researchers, policy makers, and other professionals involved in adult learning
across Europe. Most adult education organisations know about the European Agenda for Adult
Learning which sets out common priorities and approaches for adult education across Europe and

encourages collaboration and the sharing of successful practices among member states.

One of the most dynamic and efficient adult education organisations in the North-East of Romania,

Bucovina Institute Association, has implemented several projects related to professional
development and mentoring through the European Social Fund (ESF) and EEA Grants. The ESF is one
of the structural funds of the European Union, aiming to support employment and social inclusion.