24–27 October 2025, the first seniors’ camp under the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania project LL-00274 “Improving the accessibility to the social services for elderly and strengthening cross-border emergency capacity” took place at the “Virš Ąžuolų” stud farm in Paplatelė, Žemaitija National Park. Twelve seniors participated: 6 from Plungė District, 2 from Akmenė District, 2 from Dobele, and 2 from Augšdaugava. Participants described it as a “wonderful experience” offering a safe space to focus on emotional well-being and everyday coping skills.
The programme combined theory with practice: seniors learned to recognise and name emotions, identify signs of stress and anxiety, and apply self-help tools during crises. They practised breathing techniques, mindfulness, gentle movement and relaxation. The change of environment and proximity to nature supported concentration, while the small group setting encouraged open dialogue and mutual support.
This activity directly contributes to the project objective—to improve older residents’ access to social services, particularly in remote areas, and to strengthen community resilience. Emotional literacy and stress-management competencies are essential both in daily independent living and when responding calmly and effectively to unexpected situations.
This was the first of five camps planned over the project period. The second camp will take place at the end of November, and the remaining three are scheduled for 2026. Each camp will further develop topics of emotional resilience, communication and crisis coping, with individual consultations provided according to participants’ needs.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.