Why Seniors of Orunia District?
Every day, we are bombarded with information – news, posts, videos – that can both help and mislead us. In our Orunia neighbourhood in Gdańsk, where local residents and Ukrainian refugees live side by side, disinformation is not just an abstract internet problem. It creates real tensions and conflicts affecting daily life.
Seniors bring rich life experience and deep socio-cultural knowledge. Yet the scale and complexity of modern propaganda and disinformation can challenge even the most aware individuals. Among Polish seniors, false information about Ukrainian refugees has circulated, causing mistrust and social friction. Meanwhile, Ukrainian seniors have been exposed to manipulated messages about Polish politics and the situation in Ukraine, fueling divisions and misunderstandings.
As one of the research studies found out:
Disinformation about the Ukrainian community in Poland significantly impacts relations between both groups. False information, mainly spread through social media and pro-Russian sources, reinforces stereotypes and prejudices, escalating social tensions. Research highlights the growing presence of anti-Ukrainian disinformation and hate speech online in Poland, especially since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022 (Geremek Center Foundation, 2023; Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, 2023; Liber-Kwiecińska, 2023).
This situation inspired the creation of the “Senior without Fake News” program – an initiative that not only teaches how to recognize and combat disinformation but primarily builds bridges of understanding and mutual support between senior women and men of different nationalities. This is not a typical digital skills course – it is a genuine lesson in civic responsibility and experiencing community in the digital world
The Idea Behind “Senior without Fake News” – Interculturality, Peer Support, and Life Experience
From the start, “Senior without Fake News” was designed as more than just a series of workshops about online safety. It is a program rooted in experience, trust, and shared responsibility. The opportunity to implement it came after being selected for the Digital Activism Accelerator program run by TechSoup. After a rigorous application process, we received intensive digital education and mentoring support, which, together with senior leaders, helped us develop a project tailored to seniors’ needs.
Rather than using traditional hierarchical teaching models, we rely on grassroots, inclusive education based on peer support. Senior group leaders, already trained, support their peers by leading sessions and sharing knowledge in a natural and accessible way. They are the program’s driving force – understanding the context, speaking the language of shared experience, and inspiring trust. This model replaces the “teacher-student” barrier with a partnership where everyone contributes something valuable.
Research Summary:
Peer support in adult and senior education involves mutual assistance among people of similar age or experience, helping with learning, skill development, and coping with educational and social challenges. Studies show such support boosts motivation, reduces loneliness, improves mental health, and fosters social integration. Peer support programs like Senior Peer Counseling and Experience Corps benefit participants and communities by building intergenerational ties and enhancing social and digital inclusion [1][2][3].
The program’s strength lies in its intercultural character – it is based on collaboration between Polish and Ukrainian seniors who face different yet often similar forms of disinformation. This shared challenge connects older adults from both countries. The program is not only a response to disinformation but also an opportunity to build bridges of understanding and solidarity between these communities. The dialogue space where seniors share experiences is invaluable. It allows for a better understanding of differences and similarities rooted in history, culture, and today’s challenges.
We emphasize leveraging the rich experiences of seniors from both countries. Polish seniors remember times of intense propaganda—from World War II through the Communist era—when information manipulation was part of daily life. They have practiced confronting disinformation and seeking the truth. Ukrainian participants bring experience of facing Russian disinformation and propaganda that still affects their lives.
This mix of perspectives, histories, and cultural contexts gives the project depth and effectiveness, allowing it to meet the specific challenges of both communities. “Senior without Fake News” becomes not only an educational program but a platform for exchanging experiences and building informational resilience on solid foundations of history, wisdom, and mutual support.
From Knowledge to Action – How Senior Leaders Took the Helm
Before the workshops began in senior clubs, we built a foundation by consulting with mentors from TechSoup, and senior club leaders to identify needs and potential. Then we held two intensive training sessions for 20 senior leaders from various clubs and groups in Orunia district.
The first session focused on disinformation—how to spot manipulation, fake news, conspiracy theories, and infoattacks—with lively discussions and personal stories. The second was about teaching others — not as “teacher to student” but “peer to peer.” Adult education based on trust, respect, and shared experience was key. Leaders learned not just to deliver knowledge but to create a welcoming atmosphere where seniors feel comfortable asking questions and learning without stress.
Photo: Training on countering disinformation for senior Orunia citizens (Gdańsk Foundation for Social Innovation)
Then the leaders went into the field. Pilot workshops in Orunia’s senior clubs were more than lessons about fake news. They were conversations where personal stories, questions about truth, and shared reflection on resisting manipulation online and in life converged. Importantly, sessions were held in both Polish and Ukrainian, so no one felt excluded. Seventy people participated, including 24 with refugee experience. The project’s impact was even wider—thanks to shared educational materials, it reached over 200 seniors in Gdańsk.
Voices of Change – Seniors Who Made a Difference
Though “Senior without Fake News” was designed as an educational program, its heart was the people: workshop participants, senior leaders, and the community that created a supportive space. This closeness and shared experience made the program so effective.
Memories from the sessions varied—from uncertainty to discovery, to pride in new skills. Ms. Krystyna said, “At first, I thought it wasn’t for me, but with each workshop, I felt I was making progress. Even my grandchildren noticed I understand more when we talk about the Internet.” Ms. Nataliia, a participant from Ukraine, noted, “Now I can spot fake news and explain to my family where we are being lied to. That’s a big deal.”
What resonated most was relief and regaining control. Seniors didn’t want patronizing explanations—they needed tools to verify information and resist manipulation. More than that, they needed conversation, contact, and community.
Senior leaders noticed that workshops strengthened not only digital skills but also participants’ sense of agency. One leader said, “With every meeting, I see how seniors in our clubs grow more confident. Now we’re the ones asking for more!”
The workshops defused fake news and tensions. They tackled real issues—what we hear in the news, what we see on social media, and how it affects local relations. Through shared dialogue and understanding, participants found common ground despite nationality, generational, or political differences.
Sustainability and Future Prospects
Although the project formally ended, its effects extend far beyond the timeline. The greatest value was the change in people—not only those who attended but the whole senior club community in Orunia.
Trained leaders plan to continue and expand the program with new topics and more workshops. Some have already started leading new sessions with their own style and approach. Others prepare to include more community members—not only seniors but also their families, friends, and neighbors.
Online educational materials—created together with participants—serve as a starting point for further work. These are not just exercises and facts but guides on building educational programs based on reciprocity and trust.
See the educational materials:
The success of “Senior without Fake News” shows that effective education does not depend on technology or big budgets but on relationships, context, and experience. When education happens in familiar places, led by someone “like me,” it transforms not only what we know but our sense of safety and influence.
At Gościnna Przystań, we believe education never ends. This project proved that seniors from Poland and Ukraine not only need support but can be agents of change—if given the space to lead it.
[1] Choi, N. G., Hegel, M. T., Marti, C. N., Marinucci, M. L., & Bruce, M. L. (2012). Telehealth problem-solving therapy for depressed low-income homebound older adults. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(10), 938–945.
[2] Carlson, M. C., Erickson, K. I., Kramer, A. F., Voss, M. W., Bolea, N., Mielke, M., ... & Fried, L. P. (2009). Evidence for neurocognitive plasticity in at-risk older adults: The Experience Corps program. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 64A(12), 1275–1282.
[3] ed, L. P., Carlson, M. C., Freedman, M., Frick, K. D., Glass, T. A., Hill, J., ... & Zeger, S. (2004). A social model for health promotion for an aging population: Initial evidence on the Experience Corps model. Journal of Urban Health, 81(1), 64–78.
Note: The “Senior without Fake News” project was implemented by the GFIS team: Olha Zachynska, Zofia Malinowska, Mateusz Świerzyński, and Ewa Patyk, with the support and involvement of senior leaders and the TechSoup team. The project was funded by the Digital Activism Accelerator program by TechSoup .
Author: Ewa Patyk (Gdańsk Foundation for Social Innovation)
Background photo: “Gościnna Przystań” Neighbourhood Hub