Promoting inclusion of older men

In Australia very popular way of informal learning with mainly men communities is taking place in Men's Sheds. These are the places where men meet in order to use one's potential, talents, ideas and to spend time in a productive way. Men get together to fix broken things, build new things, etc., and in order to do so they share their knowledge, experiences, fears and problems with each other. Men's Sheds are mostly represented as one of the best practice for improving men's wellbeing, health and productivity in later life.

Reflect:

Is there a place in your community where men can meet and participate in various activities (similarly to the Men's Sheds project)? If it does not, do you think that men in your community have enough opportunities to share knowledge and experience? Could a similar project like Men's Sheds be implemented in your community?

An example of good practice from Australia: Barry Golding, John McDonald, Małgorzata Malec – Learning by older men in the contemporary adult education research field: some contexts, cases and implications.

See also examples of good practices from Canada; Ireland and Mens' sheds in EU.

Promotion of men sheds in Ireland