MediAlena Digital & Media Agency

Digital inclusion starts with opportunity.
Discover why EmpowerAge was created and how we're supporting older women across Europe.
👇 Read more below

EmpowerAge is officially underway and it’s co-funded by the European Union (Erasmus+)

Why does this matter?

Because the digital divide is not just a personal challenge - it’s a social one.

And when age and gender overlap, barriers can become invisible, but very real: fewer opportunities, less support, and less confidence to participate fully in the digital world.

Through EmpowerAge, partners from Greece, Italy and Finland are working together to:
- address gendered ageism,
- strengthen digital and professional skills,
- create inclusive learning tools and open educational resources,
- support older women in active participation in society and the labour market.

👉 Already this week, we’ll be inviting you to take part in a short survey.

Your input will help shape the project’s training programme and the free Toolkit we are developing, so that they truly reflect real needs and experiences.
If you care about inclusion, lifelong learning and women’s empowerment in the digital age, follow along, stay connected, and take part.

Partnership:
• Association of Women over 40 – The A40s (Greece, Coordinator) The A40s
• La Casa del Faro APS (Italy) La Casa del Faro APS
• MediAlena (Finland) MediAlena Digital & Media Agency



This publication has been developed with the financial support from the European Commission in the framework of Erasmus+ programme. The information and views set out in this publication are those of the authors. The European Commission and the Hellenic National agency may not be held responsible for the use, which may be made of the information contained herein.

One of the first reflections from a participant in Greece - and already so powerful.
Confidence changes everything 🥰

One of the most powerful things we are already seeing through EmpowerAge is this:

Women begin to see themselves differently.

Not as “too late”.
Not as “not enough”.
Not as invisible.

But as people with experience, resilience, transferable skills, and real value.

One of the participants from Greece recently shared a reflection after joining the programme. She spoke about how often women underestimate themselves and fail to recognise the skills they already have.

Taking care of a family.
Supporting others.
Organising everyday life.
Managing difficult situations.

These are not “just responsibilities”.
These are communication skills, time management, emotional intelligence, crisis management, leadership.

And yet many women never learn to describe these experiences as strengths.

This is exactly why spaces like EmpowerAge matter.

Because sometimes all it takes is:
✨ the right questions
✨ a supportive community
✨ and a safe space to reflect

—to start seeing yourself differently.

And this is only the beginning 💛

Thanks to The A40s La Casa del Faro APS MediAlena Digital & Media Agency

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This publication has been developed with the financial support from the European Commission in the framework of Erasmus+ programme. The information and views set out in this publication are those of the authors. The European Commission and the Hellenic National agency may not be held responsible for the use, which may be made of the information contained herein.

The project is growing and has the first results 💪🏻

The digital divide is not only about technology.
It is also about age, confidence, access and who feels welcome in the digital world.

And yes, the problem is real.

📊 Across the European Union:
— women make up only around 20% of ICT specialists
— only 1 in 3 STEM graduates is a woman
— many women leave the tech industry due to lack of support, inclusive environments, and confidence barriers

And for women 40+ and 45+, the challenge often becomes even more complex.

Not because they cannot learn.
But because they are too often told - directly or indirectly - that technology is “not for them anymore”.

This is exactly why EmpowerAge exists.

Right now, the programme is already running in 🇮🇹 Italy and 🇬🇷 Greece, helping women strengthen digital skills, explore AI tools, build confidence, and reconnect with new professional opportunities.

And this is only the beginning.

Our goal is not only to support women in two countries, but to contribute to a bigger conversation across Europe:
✨ that learning has no age
✨ that experience is valuable
✨ and that digital inclusion should truly include everyone

Because when women are excluded from the digital world, we all lose knowledge, experience, and potential.

And when women are supported entire communities grow 💛

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This publication has been developed with the financial support from the European Commission in the framework of Erasmus+ programme. The information and views set out in this publication are those of the authors. The European Commission and the Hellenic National agency may not be held responsible for the use, which may be made of the information contained herein.

We’ve now started in Greece 🇬🇷

If you’re a woman 45+ living in Greece, you can still join the programme.

And if this might be relevant to someone you know — feel free to share 💛

EmpowerAge has now officially started in Greece 🇬🇷

The first session has already taken place - bringing together women 45+ from across the country in an online format.
The programme is implemented by The A40s (Greece), in collaboration with partners from Italy and Finland.

But this is more than just a training.
It starts with something many women have felt at some point:
“Maybe this is not for me anymore.”
✨ And gently shifts it to: “I can do this too.”

Because the digital world is changing fast.
And too often, women over 45 are left behind -
not because they lack ability, but because of stereotypes, lack of access, and low confidence.

This is exactly what EmpowerAge is here to change.

Over 16 weeks, participants will:
— build practical digital skills
— explore AI tools
— strengthen confidence and professional identity
— and reconnect with new career opportunities

And yes - there are still places available.
If you are based in Greece and want to grow, learn, and take the next step - you can still join.

📩 Register here: https://forms.gle/UdNi1GeyVVqvJrWA7
Learning has no age.
And the digital world should be open to everyone 💛

This publication has been developed with the financial support from the European Commission in the framework of Erasmus+ programme. The information and views set out in this publication are those of the authors. The European Commission and the Hellenic National agency may not be held responsible for the use, which may be made of the information contained herein.

We’ve officially started in Italy 🇮🇹

If you’re a woman 40+ living in Italy, you can still join the programme.

And if this might be relevant to someone you know - feel free to share 💛

EmpowerAge has officially started in Italy 🇮🇹

The first session has already taken place in Bologna in a hybrid format, both offline and online with La Casa del Faro APS

And this means: women can join the programme from different cities across Italy.

But this was more than just an introduction.
It was the beginning of a space where:
— women connect and share their stories
— there is no judgement and no “wrong answers”
— real conversations about age, confidence, and change begin

Because before learning digital tools, we start with something deeper: understanding the barriers women face - including ageism, both external and internal.

✨ This is what EmpowerAge is about.

‼️And yes! There are still places available.

If you’re a woman 40+ and want to build digital skills, explore AI, and feel more confident in today’s world, you can still join.

📩 For more information: [email protected]

We’ll be waiting for you 💛

This publication has been developed with the financial support from the European Commission in the framework of Erasmus+ programme. The information and views set out in this publication are those of the authors. The European Commission and the Hellenic National agency may not be held responsible for the use, which may be made of the information contained herein.

More than 100 women told us what they really need.
We listened — and now we’re building something based on real life, not assumptions.
This is not just about digital skills.
It’s about confidence, relevance, and being seen.
And this programme is not being created for women —
it is being created with women.
Stay with us — we’ll show you how it’s built, step by step 💛

What should a training programme for women 40+ actually include?

We didn’t guess. We asked.

As part of EmpowerAge, we surveyed over 100 women to understand what they really need to stay relevant in today’s digital world.

And the results speak for themselves.

📊 What women told us they need most:
– Over 70% want to improve their practical digital skills for work
– More than 60% are interested in learning how to use AI tools in real-life contexts
– Many highlight the need for flexible learning formats that fit around work and family
– Lack of confidence and fear of falling behind remain common barriers

👉 At the same time, age-related bias continues to limit professional development and employment opportunities.
This is the reality we cannot ignore.

Women 40+ are already learning, adapting, and trying to keep up. But too often, they do it without the right support or access to relevant opportunities.
And this is exactly the gap we are addressing.

✨ We are now developing the EmpowerAge training programme — based not on assumptions, but on real data and real experiences.

A programme that will combine:
– digital skills
– AI literacy
– confidence and employability support
– awareness of gendered ageism

Because learning is not just about tools.
It’s about feeling capable, visible, and valued.
We’ll be sharing how this programme is being built — step by step.
Stay with us 💛

This is what meaningful communication looks like.
At MediAlena, I’m leading dissemination for EmpowerAge and this project is a great example of how things should be done:
Not based on assumptions.
But on real voices, real data, real needs.
Not for women.
With women.

What happens when over 100 women say: this is what we really need?

At EmpowerAge, we listened.

The main body of the needs analysis is now complete and one thing is already clear: this programme is being built on something real.

More than 100 women shared their experiences, needs, barriers, and aspirations with us.
Not abstract ideas.
Not assumptions.
Real stories. Real challenges. Real goals.
And their voices are already shaping what comes next.

The findings show something important: women 40+ are not behind - they are ready.
Many are already using digital tools and exploring AI.
What they need is not basic access, but learning that is practical, flexible, and aligned with their real lives.

At the same time, age discrimination remains a serious barrier that cannot be ignored.

So now we move into the next phase: building the EmpowerAge training programme based on real data and real needs.

And this matters.

Because this project is not being built for women.
It is being built with women.

We’ll be sharing this process with you step by step - so stay with us.

The A40s La Casa del Faro APS MediAlena Digital & Media Agency

And to every woman who took part in the survey: thank you.
You are not just participants. You are co-creators of something meaningful - not only for this project, but for many more women to come 💛

If you want to be part of it - fill in the survey https://forms.gle/DyyvBVbh6KgmzjCZ6
Your voice will shape what this programme becomes.
You’re not just answering questions.
You’re helping build something that can change opportunities for women across Europe.
👉 Read the post
👉 Join the process

You don’t age out of potential.
But the world often treats you like you do.

Millions of women over 40 are still being pushed out of the digital world.
Not because they can’t learn.
Not because they don’t want to grow.
But because they were never given the same access, support, or opportunities.

And this is not just unfair - it’s a loss for all of us.
We lose experience.
We lose perspectives.
We lose powerful voices that still have so much to say.

✨ That’s exactly why we are building the EmpowerAge training programme.

A space where women can:
– rebuild confidence in digital skills
– stay relevant in a fast-changing world
– and feel seen, not dismissed
And most importantly - this programme is being created based on real stories, real needs, and real experiences.
💛 Because change doesn’t happen for people.
It happens with them.

We’ve already started shaping the programme and we’ll be sharing this journey with you step by step.
Stay with us.

Because this is bigger than a training.
This is about changing the narrative.

The A40s La Casa del Faro APS MediAlena Digital & Media Agency

Digital transformation should not leave anyone behind💪🏻

Across Europe, millions of adults are expected to adapt to a rapidly changing digital world. Yet many women over 40 still face age bias, limited access to digital training and fewer opportunities for reskilling.

This is exactly the challenge addressed by the EmpowerAge project a pilot initiative funded by Erasmus+, which focuses on digital inclusion, employability and empowerment of women 40+.

At MediAlena, I’m proud to contribute to the project as Disseminattion & Communication Manager, supporting the project’s communication strategy, digital visibility and outreach across Europe.

The project is implemented by an international partnership:
• A40s – Association of Women over 40 (Greece)
• La Casa del Faro (Italy)
• MediAlena (Finland)

Together we are developing a 16-week blended training programme designed to support women 40+ in strengthening digital skills, confidence and professional opportunities in the digital economy.

Before building the programme, we want to listen and learn from real experiences.

We are currently conducting a short survey to better understand:
• which digital skills feel most challenging today
• what barriers women face in work and learning
• what kind of training would be truly useful
• what support could make a real difference

📝 The survey takes 7–10 minutes and is open to women aged 40+ who understand English.

✨ Women living in Italy or Greece may also have the opportunity to participate in the pilot training programme.

Your voice can help shape a new educational programme that may later be expanded across Europe.
🔗 Survey link in bio

If you believe in inclusive digital opportunities and lifelong learning, please consider:
• sharing the survey with your network
• helping us reach women who might benefit from this initiative
• following the project on social media

Every response helps us build a more inclusive digital future.

Thanks ❤️