This October, our Senior Advisor Gisela Lange travelled to Bonn to join the annual meeting of SES – Senior Expert Service, where volunteer representatives and regional coordinators from across Germany gathered to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and look ahead together.

This Tuesday, October 28th, we were thrilled to host an inspiring event at our Brussels office, bringing together young participants, senior experts, and stakeholders to answer the question: “How can digitalisation bridge the generational gap?”

We’re excited to share recent activities from our member organisation, Senior Experts Austria, as part of the SENT Programme.

As part of our SENT Programme, our member organisation ASEP in Austria continues to support start-ups with senior expertise through the Microkredit programme.

Yesterday, on October 16th, CESES had the pleasure of presenting our latest research report, “Harnessing Senior Expertise to Include Migrants and Youth in the EU Labour Market.” The event brought together members, partners, and guests for an afternoon of reflection and exchange — exploring how senior expert volunteers can bridge generations and create opportunities for all.

Yesterday, on October 14th, CESES held its annual in-person Board Meeting in Paris, bringing together our board for a day of reflection, discussion, and collaboration. The meeting was an opportunity to take stock of our progress, share insights from ongoing projects, and shape the next steps for our network.

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.

We’re proud to see our member organisation Seniores Italia Lazio carrying out impactful mentoring activities under the SENT Programme — empowering both students and senior volunteers through learning, guidance, and shared experience.

We’re excited to introduce CESES’ three Senior Advisors — each bringing genuine expertise, passion, and years of hands-on experience to our community.

Last month, from September 8th - 10th, members from across our network came together online for the CESES Academy — a three-day series of workshops designed to inspire collaboration, exchange, and innovation within the senior volunteering community.

Today, we celebrate the International Day of Older Persons, recognising the invaluable knowledge, skills, and experience that older generations bring to our societies.

We are delighted to announce that this coming Monday, September 8th, CESES and CEV will be hosting the GIVE event. This event aims to highlight the importance of building a truly inclusive volunteer programme that is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.

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.

By 2011, CESES had reached a more introspective phase in its journey, concentrating on focus, funding and the future.

CESES Joins AL-INVEST: From Europe to Latin America

Welcome to our new CESES President Bernard Boidin