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Month: August 2025

CARDET: «ΌΛΑ τα παιδιά με σχολικά»

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in 20 years, Community Actions.

Η ομάδα του CARDET, στο πλαίσιο της πρωτοβουλίας #twenty4twenty, με χαρά συνεισέφερε στην εκστρατεία «ΌΛΑ τα παιδιά με σχολικά», που διοργανώνει το Παγκύπριο Συντονιστικό Συμβούλιο Εθελοντισμού. 🎒📚

Η ομάδα μας συγκέντρωσε σχολικά είδη, ρουχισμό, βιβλία και άλλα πολλά με σκοπό τη στήριξη παιδιών που έχουν ανάγκη, ώστε να ξεκινήσουν τη νέα σχολική χρονιά με όλα τα απαραίτητα εφόδια.

Ευχαριστούμε όλους/όλες όσοι/όσες συνέβαλαν και στήριξαν αυτή την ουσιαστική προσπάθεια!

Μαζί, ενισχύουμε την ισότιμη πρόσβαση στην εκπαίδευση. 💙

#CARDET #ΌλαΤαΠαιδιάΜεΣχολικά #BackToSchool

The Honorable Tanya Davies MP Visits CARDET to Explore Mental Health and Well-being Initiatives

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Blog.

On Tuesday, 26 August 2025, CARDET had the distinct pleasure of welcoming Η.Ε. Μs. Tanya Davies MP, State Member for Badgerys Creek and former Minister for Mental Health, Women, and Ageing for the Government of New South Wales, Australia. The visit placed a strong emphasis on youth mental health and well-being, fostering a productive dialogue on knowledge exchange and best practices in prevention, early intervention, and community-based support.

Showcasing Innovation in Mental Health

CARDET presented a portfolio of pioneering initiatives designed to strengthen mental resilience, promote positive psychology, and address emerging challenges in digital well-being. The showcased projects included:

  • Thriving Schools – Aims to implement a whole-school, systemic approach to mental health and well-being across Europe.
  • PERMA Digital – Aims to develop and implement a whole-school program for well-being in digital education, assessing its potential to be mainstreamed and scaled up through mixed-methods research.
  • Supporting Mental Health Resilience among Youth in Cyprus – A collaborative initiative with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health.
  • European Teacher Wellbeing and Career Observatory – Monitors and promotes teacher well-being across Europe.
  • Digital Harmony – Encourages healthy digital behaviors and online safety.
  • YouthWell – A platform enhancing the psychosocial well-being of adolescents.
  • Ageing Well – Encourages healthy and active aging.
  • Glitter – Supports evidence-informed policy at the European level by developing and testing a whole-school approach that brings several evidence-based tools and practices into a coherent whole to enhance digital well-being.

During the visit, Ms. Davies showed particular interest in strategies for early intervention, youth engagement, and smooth transitions from hospitalization to community care. Discussions also highlighted CARDET’s ongoing research and development in mental health, the role of social media and influencers in spreading positive mental health messages, and approaches to sustainable funding and partnerships.

A Shared Commitment

The visit underscored Ms. Davies’s commitment to advancing youth mental health and her support for sustainable, community-driven solutions.

For CARDET, the exchange reaffirmed its mission to innovate, collaborate, and inspire action—working hand-in-hand with local and international partners to ensure the well-being of young people and communities.

Syrila Makarezou testimonial video 20th anniversary CARDET

Celebrating 20 Years of Impact with Key Partners! 

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on . Posted in 20 years, 20 Years of Impact.

We are honoured to have collaborated with KMOP — one of Greece’s oldest and most respected civil society organisations—on educational projects that foster inclusion and growth. As we mark 20 years, we celebrate the impact we have made together and look forward to expanding our shared mission to empower and uplift communities worldwide. 💙

Mrs Syrila Makarezou, Network Coordinator at KMOP, shares her inspiring journey in our latest testimonial video – a story of growth, passion, and impact.

See the video here.

UST Project Successfully Concludes, Equipping Municipal Staff for Sustainable Tourism

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

The UST – Upskilling Municipal Staff’s Competences on Planning and Managing Sustainable Tourism project has officially concluded, culminating in the successful implementation of Multiplier Events across all partner countries. These events showcased the project’s key achievements, including the innovative UST e-course, the comprehensive Handbook on Sustainable Tourism, and the interactive Self-Assessment Tool.

Designed to enhance the skills of municipal staff and local stakeholders, these resources support the development and management of tourism strategies that are economically viable, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. By promoting knowledge exchange and fostering collaboration, the project has delivered practical tools and actionable pathways for municipalities to adopt resilient and future-focused tourism models.

Although the project has reached its conclusion, all resources remain freely accessible to support ongoing learning and practical application throughout Europe and beyond. 

Discover the full range of outcomes and resources at https://ustproject.eu/ 

RALExILA: Strengthening Adult Education in Europe through Innovative National Registries

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

On Wednesday, 6 August 2025, the second pilot event of the RALExILA project – National Adult Learning Registries to Support the Development of Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) – was successfully held at the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.

Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, the initiative focuses on enhancing adult education systems across Europe through the creation of comprehensive National Adult Learning Registries and the promotion of Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs). The pilot meeting marked a crucial step towards refining the model developed within the RALExILA project to better suit the Cypriot context.

The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, including the Office of European and International Affairs, Lifelong Learning and Adult Education (IDEP), the Directorate of Primary Education, and Training Centres. Participants engaged in an interactive agenda that included:

  • A presentation of the current landscape of adult learning registries and ILAs across Europe
  • An introduction to the RALExILA model
  • Discussions on challenges, stakeholder needs, quality assurance mechanisms, and system governance
  • Exchange of user experiences and ideas for improving the relevance, accessibility, and usability of the system

Through their contributions, participants provided valuable recommendations and feedback on the RALExILA model, as well as for the finalisation of the forthcoming Handbook on National Adult Learning Registries.

The event concluded with a reflection session, reinforcing the commitment of all stakeholders to strengthening adult education infrastructures at the European level.

This initiative is aligned with the priorities of the European Agenda for Adult Learning 2024–2025, as well as the upcoming follow-up project for the 2026–2027 period. It also reflects the broader philosophy of the National Strategy for Lifelong Learning, aiming to increase adult participation in lifelong learning through appropriate mechanisms and relevant initiatives.

For more information about the project, please visit: https://ralexila.eu/

EGIDEV Game Now Available: A Gamified Pathway to Digital Entrepreneurship for VET Students

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

As the EGIDEV project draws to a successful close at the end of this month, we are proud to announce the official release of the EGIDEV Game – an innovative educational tool designed to support Vocational Education and Training (VET) students and educators in exploring the world of digital entrepreneurship.

EGIDEV, short for Educational Game in Digital Entrepreneurship for VET Students, was developed with the aim of making entrepreneurship education more accessible, interactive, and engaging. By integrating principles of gamification, the project has created a comprehensive board game that encourages students to learn by playing – transforming complex entrepreneurial concepts into practical and enjoyable learning experiences.

This dynamic game has been developed, tested, and translated into all project partner languages, ensuring accessibility across Europe. It is accompanied by a rich collection of digital resources, including videos and articles, to enhance the learning journey and support both students and educators.

Explore digital entrepreneurship through play – the EGIDEV Game is now freely available to download, print, and play: https://egidev.eu/print-the-game/ 

We warmly invite the VET community – educators, trainers, and students – to explore this exciting tool and integrate it into their learning environments. By combining strategy, creativity, and fun, the EGIDEV Game helps develop critical digital entrepreneurship skills while fostering collaboration and innovation.

The EGIDEV project aims to facilitate both VET students and teachers in learning and teaching the principles of entrepreneurship through gamification, across different stages of business development. Its key objective is to deliver an educational game where learning by playing enables a deeper understanding of digital entrepreneurship and its challenges.

For more information and to access all game materials, visit: https://egidev.eu

RECOVER Project Harnesses the Power of Sport to Support Survivors of Human Trafficking

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

On the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (30 July 2025), the RECOVER project spotlights the role of sport in supporting the recovery and reintegration of trafficking survivors across Europe.

With a firm belief in the transformative power of sport, the RECOVER project unites partner organisations from Greece, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Lithuania to promote healing, empowerment, and social inclusion for individuals who have experienced human trafficking.

Funded by the European Union, the initiative is developing practical tools and resources for professionals working directly with survivors, including:

A capacity-building programme for sports coaches, trainers, and support professionals that focuses on trauma-informed coaching, safe and inclusive sporting environments, and trust-building strategies.

An interactive e-guide that complements the training curriculum, offering actionable guidance and gamified tools to integrate sport into recovery pathways.

An awareness-raising toolkit designed to highlight the value of sport in the rehabilitation process, aimed at both social care and sports sector stakeholders.

A key milestone in the project’s first phase is the finalisation of a Common Analysis Report, drawing on insights from approximately 150 experts—including psychologists, legal professionals, educators, and coaches—through interviews and focus groups conducted across all six partner countries. This report, to be published by the end of August, will underpin the project’s next steps and tool development.

For more information and updates, visit: www.recover-project.eu