A new on-line mentoring service offering expert advice from retired people was launched this week, in the form of www.Silentknowledge.eu - “an online community of retirees contributing to the business landscape by imparting their expert knowledge and know-how to a younger generation of up and coming entrepreneurs.”
The project, known as SilentK, is being funded through the European Lifelong Learning Programme and was launched this week by Fianna Fáil Senator Mary White, author of the 2006 policy document, “A New Approach to Ageing and Ageism”.
Speaking ahead of the launch in Trim, County Meath this week, Senator White said: “SilentKnowledge is a mentoring service which connects businesses and groups with experts from across Europe who are now retired. This is a powerful and innovative programme that is operating to huge success.”
Senator White’s 2006 policy document provided an analysis of issues facing older people in Ireland and advanced a series of specific recommendations in response to existing challenges and those that lie ahead, including that mandatory retirement at age 65 should be abolished. Instead Senator White proposes that progressive retirement strategies such as phased retirement and part-time work be initiated and introduced by the Government.
“In my work through the Seanad and my role in the House as Government spokesperson for Older People I come across many major issues and barriers facing older people and in many respects these are barriers society has placed in the way of progress and dignity for older people. Older people have a wealth of experience to be offered to younger generations and we must tap into that as the country as a whole will benefit.”
