Robotics, podcast production, 3D printing, stress management, green skills – these and many other things can be learned today in Greater Poland. Regional schools and universities, libraries, social integration centers, foundations, and technology workshops offer a wide range of courses and activities to residents. All this is done in the spirit of lifelong learning (LLL), that is, learning throughout life.
Library — much more than just a place to borrow books
Forgotten places where decades-old dust circles between the shelves? That’s a thing of the past. Today's libraries are bright, welcoming, and full of life. They are centers of culture, education, social initiatives, and new technologies, as well as meeting spaces for residents of all ages. Libraries in Greater Poland offer dozens of free courses, workshops, and meetings. For example, at the historic Raczyński Library in Poznań and its branches, you can learn calligraphy or create your own website. In Pleszew, the library offers smartphone courses for seniors, coding classes for children, and meetings with psychologists. Similar initiatives are developing in many towns, such as Złotów and Konin, where alongside handicraft lessons, people aged 50+ can learn the basics of cybersecurity, and where the Maturity Lab operates. It's worth following local library websites, as their offerings are constantly changing.
A 3D printer instead of a textbook
For those who feel inventive and have some manual skills but lack equipment or space to pursue their passions at home, FabLabs and makerspaces — workshops and studios where you can use all sorts of tools, from soldering irons to 3D printers — are a real playground. One example is the Freelab Września Association in Września, which, in addition to a coworking zone, offers an open creative studio equipped among others with a 3D printer, laser, and CNC machine (enabling precise cutting of materials, from wood to glass).
FabLabs and makerspaces are open to everyone, from technical high school students to seniors who want to print their own balcony flower holders. You can draw on the expertise of professionals on site or create independently.
Micro-education, big impact
Development of competencies in Greater Poland also happens in cultural centers, social integration centers, senior clubs, rural community centers, and other meeting spots. Their offerings are very diverse, covering various topics. Often, participants learn from each other, and the events organized foster intergenerational integration. By nurturing passions, these places help build relationships and gain social skills. For example, at the Social Activation Center "Tlenownia" in Czempiń, you can attend survival, sewing, or ceramics workshops, while at the "Pod Lipami" Cultural Center in Poznań you can benefit from a wide range of affordable or free classes in voice training, brain exercises, and English conversation for seniors.
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