As part of our upcoming Research & Policy Report presentation on Harnessing Senior Expertise to Include Migrants and Youth in the EU Labour Market, we’re proud to introduce the inspiring panelists who will be sharing their perspectives during the event.

When CESES was founded in 2000, it was little more than a handful of organisations, united by a shared purpose and the encouragement of European programmes. There was no secretariat, no social media presence, and only a few members finding their way in a new network.

On the tail end of the pandemic, CESES entered a new period. After years of adapting to digital tools and hybrid connections, the network was ready to take bold new steps forward. In 2023, that opportunity materialised with EU support for the Senior Experts Nurturing Talent (SENT) programme (2023–2025).

2020: Staying Connected in Uncertain Times. When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020, international cooperation faced unprecedented obstacles. Travel was halted, in-person meetings were cancelled, and many projects were delayed or reshaped entirely.

From 2016 to 2019, CESES joined two key Erasmus+ projects — MYDI (Mentoring Young Disadvantaged People for Inclusion) and EvolYou (European Senior Volunteering through Mentoring for the Social Inclusion of Young People in Difficulties)

In 2013, senior expert organisations from around the world gathered in Bonn, Germany for a major international conference, hosted with support from the German Ministry for Development Cooperation. Among them was CESES, representing its growing European network.