EcoLOGIKA - shaping the basic skills of socially excluded adults

Summary

The project strongly embodies the EITA theme “Skills for Life” by turning basic mathematical skills into practical tools for everyday decision-making, responsible consumption and lifelong learning. By linking numeracy with ecology, it empowers adults with fewer opportunities to interpret data, calculate costs, understand environmental impact and participate more consciously in social and civic life. 

“Maths? At 76? I thought, ‘What for? I left school 60 years ago?’ I believed there was no way back to it. This project showed me I was wrong. I need maths simply to understand — not only bills, news or climate data, but the world I live in today.” 

Topic(s) addressed

• Numeracy
• Scientific literacy
• Climate and environmental awareness
• Active citizenship
• Critical thinking
• Media literacy
• Combating climate disinformation
• Informed decision-making

Target group(s)  

• 116 adults 60+ with low basic skills
• 12 adult educators and senior trainers

Methodologies used

The project applied an innovative multidisciplinary methodology: numeracy was taught through real ecological challenges. In “Is water slipping through your fingers?”, older adults calculated their daily water use and its cost. In “Can you pay lower bills?”, they used percentages to compare savings on energy and gas. In “Can you reduce your waste?”, they estimated waste volume from shopping habits. In “Do you know how fast it gets hot?”, they interpreted climate data using mean, median and mode. Learning combined non-formal workshops, everyday bills, peer reflection, formative  feedback  and  practical anti-disinformation tasks. 

Innovation environment

The project created an innovative learning environment by transforming fear of mathematics into practical confidence. Instead of abstract teaching, older adults learned through bills, water use, waste, climate data and everyday choices. This safe, non-formal setting showed that basic skills are not merely knowledge acquired at school, but a shield for life: against manipulation, climate denialism and uninformed consumer decisions. Since 2023, more than 1,000 older adults have joined follow-up workshops,  demonstrating that the project continues to grow and change how adults perceive numeracy. 

Teachers’ role

Trainers were central innovators in the project. The methodology was developed through Polish-German cooperation, combining expertise in adult education, learning among older adults, ecology and practical numeracy. Trainers did not “teach school maths”; they created safe, supportive situations in which older adults could overcome their fear, calculate real costs, analyse climate data and evaluate everyday choices. Their role was to guide, ask questions, give formative feedback and strengthen learners’ confidence. Ecology gave mathematics a tangible, practical dimension, while mathematics made ecology measurable, evidence-based and easier to understand. 

Impact and output

The project promoted meaningful social inclusion through education for older adults, especially those with fewer opportunities and limited basic skills. Numeracy has proved essential because it helps people understand bills, costs, percentages, data and everyday messages. Ecology gave these skills a meaningful context, while mathematics made environmental choices measurable and evidence-based. More than 1,000 older adults have taken part in workshops since 2023. Today, many say they feel more confident, understand daily news better and can question misleading climate or consumer messages. This is the project’s strongest added value. 

Learn more about the project