The story starts in 2023 with the foundation of the APaSuN network, which brought together several partners to collaborate on issues related to the ages and life course changes. Supported by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions prgramme (2026 - 2029), the PAGENS project will examine how age categories and life trajectories are shaped by social, economic and cultural dynamics accross Europe, Africa and South America. The project aims to bring together the epistemologies of the Global North and South regarding life courses in order to bring about a shift in perspectives. Researchers will collaborate with partners from nine countries and draw on anthropology, sociology, psychology, history and participatory visual methods.

The PAGENS (Pathways, Ages, Generations in the Global North and South) project is at the forefront of life course research, combining interdisciplinary approaches and international comparisons. The project aims to improve our understanding of how age categories and individual trajectories are shaped by socio-economic, demographic and cultural transformations, in Europe as well as in Africa and South America. The project brings together 19 partners from 9 countries: Burkina Faso, Canada, Colombia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, France, Italy, Madagascar and Togo.