With the aim of providing older people and individuals with special needs the opportunity to continue learning and developing throughout their lives, the Ukrainian municipality of Chortkiv, drawing inspiration from Litorina Folk High School in Karlskrona, has launched what they call the “Silver Age University”. In the long term, they also hope to offer war veterans (soldiers returning from the front) the chance to retrain and gain knowledge in new areas. The municipal partnership between Karlskrona and Chortkiv has truly delivered concrete results!
The partnership began in the summer of 2022, when Karlskrona received a letter from Chortkiv’s Mayor, Volodymyr Shmatko, proposing a twinning collaboration. Shortly thereafter, an application for a partnership project was submitted to ICLD, and a one-year preparatory phase was granted.
The first meetings between the municipalities were held online, but in January 2023, Chortkiv was able to visit Karlskrona. The study visit to Litorina Folk High School and the opportunities it offers left a strong impression on the Chortkiv delegation. There is currently no equivalent form of education established in Ukraine.
“To give older people the chance to further their education and improve their lives significantly. Many older people are struggling, not least due to the war and the worry they feel for their loved ones,” says the Principal of Silver Age University, Oleksandra Filiak, who is also one of the participants in the partnership between the two municipalities.
“It feels incredibly meaningful that our folk high school has not only inspired but also tangibly contributed to strengthening adult education in Chortkiv – especially in a time of crisis. The fact that it also opens up new opportunities for war veterans to retrain and build a new future shows the true power of international cooperation,” says Peter Glimvall, Chair of the Municipal Council in Karlskrona.
Democracy through adult education
Just before Christmas 2024, ICLD approved the joint project “Democracy through Adult Education”, with the aim of increasing the participation of vulnerable groups – especially older people and people with disabilities – in social and educational contexts.
Chortkiv is particularly keen to learn more about the history of folk high schools in Karlskrona and Sweden as a model for democratic education, and to understand their role in promoting civic engagement and social change. They want to embrace the principles of folk high schools, such as inclusion and community involvement. The project will explore how the democratic ideals of these schools can meet today’s global challenges and inspire solutions that uphold democratic values. The exchange and peer learning will also focus on student influence and participation.
Through the collaboration, the project hopes to:
- Raise awareness among decision-makers about the importance of education
- Improve inclusion of minorities and underrepresented groups
- Learn from the Swedish folk high school model, which emphasises participation, equality, and civic engagement
- Promote student influence and civic participation through knowledge sharing and peer learning
This municipalpartnership is also part of ICLD’s network of partnerships between Ukrainian and Swedish municipalities.
About folk high schools
Folk high schools are a Swedish/Nordic form of adult education that combines personal development with democratic learning and active citizenship. Through participation and hands-on learning, without the pressure of grades, folk high schools empower people to influence both their own lives and society. (folkhogskola.nu)