Skip to main content

Month: July 2026

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons: Supporting Recovery and Reintegration Through Sport

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

Every year on 30 July, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons draws attention to one of the most serious violations of human rights worldwide. Trafficking in human beings affects people of all ages and backgrounds, exposing them to exploitation, violence and abuse while depriving them of their freedom, dignity and fundamental rights.

Addressing trafficking requires coordinated action across prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership. However, support cannot end when a person leaves an exploitative situation. Recovery and reintegration are often long and complex processes, shaped by each survivor’s experiences, needs and circumstances. Access to safe environments, trusted relationships and meaningful opportunities for participation is therefore essential.

The role of sport in recovery and empowerment

Sport can make an important contribution to the recovery and social inclusion of survivors and other vulnerable individuals. When delivered through safe, inclusive and trauma-informed approaches, sporting activities can support physical and mental well-being, strengthen self-confidence and help participants regain a sense of control over their lives.

Sport can also create opportunities for positive social interaction, teamwork and mutual support. Regular participation can provide structure and stability, reduce social isolation and foster a renewed sense of belonging. These benefits, however, depend on the ability of sports organisations and professionals to recognise vulnerabilities, respond appropriately to individual needs and create environments based on safety, dignity and respect.

How RECOVER contributes

The RECOVER project recognises the potential of sport as a complementary pathway towards recovery, empowerment and reintegration for victims and survivors of trafficking.

RECOVER equips professionals with the knowledge and practical tools needed to understand the experiences and needs of vulnerable athletes, identify potential risks and establish appropriate safeguards. It also promotes stronger cooperation between sports organisations, victim-support services and other relevant professionals.

Drawing on research involving 150 professionals across six countries, RECOVER has developed a set of resources that translate evidence into practical support. These include:

  • A Capacity-Building Programme for sports professionals and frontline practitioners;
  • An E-Guide offering practical guidance on inclusive and survivor-sensitive sports activities;
  • An online e-Hub supporting learning, professional exchange and networking across Europe.

Through these resources and the capacity-building activities taking place across the partner countries, RECOVER aims to help professionals create sporting environments in which participants feel safe, respected and empowered.

Building safer and more inclusive communities

The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is an important reminder that responding to trafficking is a shared responsibility. Governments, civil society organisations, victim-support services, educational institutions, sports organisations and local communities all have a role to play.

By strengthening professional capacity and encouraging cross-sector cooperation, RECOVER contributes to a broader, person-centred response to trafficking in human beings—one that extends beyond immediate protection and recognises survivors’ right to long-term recovery, participation and inclusion.

On 30 July, we reaffirm our commitment to standing alongside victims and survivors, challenging stigma and creating communities where every person can rebuild their life with dignity. Through safe and inclusive sport, RECOVER seeks to turn participation into connection, connection into empowerment and empowerment into a pathway towards recovery.

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

CARDET Launches Two New Policy Papers on Europe’s Digital Democracy and Future Skills

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Blog, EUPP5 Blog.

As Europe faces growing challenges in strengthening democratic participation while preparing its workforce for the green and digital transition, CARDET has published two new policy papers offering practical recommendations to support more inclusive, resilient and future-ready societies.

Developed under the EU Presidency Project (EUPP5), the publications address two pressing policy priorities shaping Europe’s future: strengthening civic engagement in the digital age and equipping citizens with the skills needed for a rapidly changing labour market.

The first policy paper, “Civic Engagement in the Digital Era: Strengthening Democratic Participation, Digital Rights, and Trust in Europe”, examines how digital technologies are transforming democratic participation while also creating new challenges, including disinformation, digital exclusion, declining institutional trust and platform accountability. Drawing on European policy developments and the case of Cyprus, the paper provides evidence-based recommendations to strengthen digital civic participation, promote media and information literacy, enhance transparency, and foster safer and more inclusive digital public spaces.

The second publication, “A Skills-First Framework for a Just and Competitive Europe: Policy Paper on Reskilling and Upskilling for the Just Transition”, focuses on one of Europe’s most urgent priorities: ensuring that workers and communities are prepared for the green and digital transition. The paper proposes a comprehensive policy framework centred on lifelong learning, flexible skills development, stronger collaboration between education and industry, and inclusive access to reskilling opportunities, helping ensure that no one is left behind as Europe’s economy evolves.

Together, the two policy papers reflect EUPP5’s commitment to promoting evidence-based policymaking and strengthening the role of civil society in shaping Europe’s future. While addressing different policy areas, both publications emphasise the importance of inclusive governance, active citizen participation, and collaborative approaches to tackling complex societal challenges.

Implemented in Cyprus by CARDET, in partnership with Global Focus, CONCORD Europe, and Grupa Zagranica, the EUPP5 project has brought together civil society organisations, policymakers, researchers and citizens to strengthen dialogue on sustainable development, democratic participation and international partnerships.

The two policy papers are now available and contribute to ongoing discussions at both the national and European levels on building a more open, fair and sustainable Europe.

Read the policy papers:

  • Civic Engagement in the Digital Era: Strengthening Democratic Participation, Digital Rights, and Trust in Europe, available here.
  • A Skills-First Framework for a Just and Competitive Europe: Policy Paper on Reskilling and Upskilling for the Just Transition, available here.

For more information about the EUPP5 project, visit: https://cardet.org/eupp5/

The project “Towards an open, fair and sustainable Europe in the world – EU Presidency Project 2024-2026” is co-funded by the European Union and implemented by Global Focus, Grupa Zagranica, CARDET, and CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. Project Number: 2024 / 459-484. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CARDET and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

The article was published at the PolicyPress.

Transforming Home Care at the End of Life: European Partners Launch the DIGNITY to Strengthen Palliative Care Workforce

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

Seven organisations from five European countries have joined forces to tackle one of healthcare’s fastest growing challenges: ensuring that more people can receive high quality palliative care in their own homes. The newly launched DIGNITY (Enhancing Domiciliary Palliative Care through European Vocational Education and Training Excellence) project will develop the first transnational vocational training programme designed specifically for professionals delivering end of life care at home. 

Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Forward-Looking Projects programme, the 30-month initiative aims to strengthen workforce skills, improve care quality, and help address shortages affecting palliative care services across Europe. 

Bridging the Gap in Home Palliative Care

Population ageing, longer life expectancy and the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses are placing growing pressure on health and social care systems. While many people express a preference to spend their final months at home, access to trained professionals capable of providing specialised domiciliary palliative care remains uneven across Europe. 

The DIGNITY project responds to an urgent need to better prepare the professionals who support patients and families during one of the most sensitive stages of life. By creating a common European training framework, the project seeks to improve both the quality of care and the resilience of the workforce. 

The project will create a new vocational qualification entitled “Palliative Care and DIGNITY at the End of Life at Home”, aligned with European qualification standards to facilitate recognition of skills across participating countries. 

Innovative Solutions and Expected Impact

Over the next two and a half years, the DIGNITY consortium will:

  1. Analyse workforce needs and skills gaps in participating countries  2. Develop a modern training curriculum combining clinical, digital and psychosocial competencies
  2. Pilot the programme with educators, students and healthcare professionals 4. support the long-term integration of the qualification into vocational education and training systems.

The initiative is expected to benefit vocational education providers, healthcare professionals, home care organisations, students, policymakers and, ultimately, patients and families requiring end of life care at home.

The consortium is coordinated by Instituto Politécnico de Beja (Portugal) and brings together seven organisations with expertise in higher education, vocational training, healthcare and innovation

  • MSLETB – Mayo College of Further Education and Training – Ireland
  • Hoger Instituut voor Verpleegkunde Sint Elisabeth (HIVSET) – Belgium
  • Siauliu technologiju mokymo centras (STMC) – Lithuania
  • Associação Portuguesa de Cuidados Paliativos (APCP) – Portugal
  • INOVA+ – Innovation Services, SA – Portugal
  • CARDET – Cyprus 

For more info: https://dignityproject.eu/ or follow our updates on LinkedIn and Instagram using #DIGNITYproject.

Digital Harmony Shares Transnational Research at International Education Conference in Dublin

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

The Digital Harmony consortium continues to advance its mission of promoting digital well-being across generations, with its latest contribution presented at the 5th International Education Conference (IECONF 2026), held in Dublin, Ireland, from 24 to 26 July 2026.

Representing the consortium, Elena Xeni (CARDET, Cyprus) delivered a presentation entitled “Bridging the Generational Divide: A Cross-National Analysis of Digital Well-being and Joint Learning Frameworks in European Education”. The presentation showcased the findings of Digital Harmony’s transnational research, which examined digital well-being challenges and opportunities across eight European countries: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.

The research explores two pressing challenges that have become increasingly evident in the post-pandemic digital landscape. While younger generations are navigating issues such as excessive screen time, cyberbullying, and online stress, older adults often face digital exclusion as more essential services move online.

To address these challenges, Digital Harmony promotes an innovative intergenerational learning model that transforms primary and secondary schools into community hubs where knowledge is shared across generations. Through this reciprocal approach, young people support older adults in developing digital skills, while seniors contribute valuable life experience, emotional resilience, and critical thinking to help younger generations build healthier relationships with technology.

The project has also developed tailored learning pathways for students, senior learners, and educators, providing practical resources that foster digital competence, inclusion, and well-being for all.

The presentation generated valuable discussion among international researchers and education professionals, highlighting the growing importance of collaborative approaches that strengthen digital resilience across European communities.

To learn more about the Digital Harmony project and explore its learning modules, visit https://digital-harmony.eu/.

MILES: Protecting Children Online Remains a Top Priority for Europeans

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

How MILES is helping build a generation resilient to disinformation

From misinformation and manipulation to harmful online content, protecting children in the digital world remains one of Europe’s most pressing challenges. According to the latest Digital Decade 2025 – Special Eurobarometer 566 by the European Commission, 92% of Europeans consider the protection of children online a high priority.

Responding to this growing need, the MILES project has spent the past two years helping educators and students develop the skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex digital environment. Through innovative learning approaches, including gamification, pre-bunking and debunking techniques, MILES has supported schools across Italy, Greece, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Germany, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Belgium and Romania in strengthening digital literacy and critical thinking.

The urgency of this work is reflected in the same Eurobarometer findings, which show that 36% of Europeans are concerned about inaccurate or misleading information online. To address this challenge, MILES has equipped teachers and secondary school students with practical tools to identify, question and challenge disinformation before it spreads.

Throughout 2025 and 2026, project partners engaged local educational communities through meetings, trainings and collaborative activities. More than 700 educators and education stakeholders explored the challenges of misinformation and digital safety, generating over 200 recommendations for creating a safer online environment for children. These proposals will be formally presented in the coming months, contributing to ongoing discussions on digital literacy and child protection across Europe.

Join the conversation shaping the future of digital literacy in EuropeMILES EU EDU-Conference: Against Disinformation — Towards Critical Thinking

On 27 November 2026, educators, policymakers, researchers and civil society representatives from across Europe will come together to reflect on the project’s achievements, exchange insights and discuss the future of media literacy education.Whether you join us in Brussels or online, this conference offers a unique opportunity to engage with experts, discover the project’s findings and contribute to a European dialogue on empowering young people to think critically and stay safe online.

Pre-register now to be among the first to explore MILES’ recommendations and help shape the next steps towards a safer digital future for children.

Learn more about the project: https://miles.erasmusplus.website/ 

MOBUILDING Partners Met in Padua to Strengthen Apprenticeship Mobility

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

The MOBUILDING partners met in Padua, Italy, on 15-16 July 2026 for the project’s third international meeting. The meeting was hosted by ENAIP Veneto and focused on reviewing progress and agreeing on the next steps.

Partners discussed the first draft of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship Mobility in the Building Sector. They also reviewed the first features of the project’s online platform and the training materials designed to support organisations involved in apprenticeship mobility. During the meeting, participants visited ENAIP Veneto’s training facilities and laboratories, gaining practical insight into vocational education in the building sector.

The consortium also planned the upcoming pilot mobility activities, discussed how to involve more training providers and companies, and reviewed the project’s quality and reporting requirements.

On the second day, partners focused on communication and the long-term use of the project results. CARDET presented the planned approach for keeping the project’s outcomes relevant and useful after the project ends. The meeting concluded with a contribution from Elettromeccanica Veneta, which shared an employer’s perspective on apprenticeships and workforce needs.

MOBUILDING project is designed to tackle one of the building sectors key challenges: enhancing the mobility of apprentices and the quality of their learning experiences. The project proposes an integrated support system to increase the number, diversity and quality of apprenticeship mobility opportunities. It focuses on removing structural and institutional barriers, building capacity in VET providers and companies, and creating a European-wide digital platform to facilitate cooperation and coordination. By integrating innovative and sustainable practices to meet evolving industry standards, MOBUILDING boosts the transition to greener and more sustainable practices, essential for meeting EU Green Deal goals and its required new skills and training.

More about the project: https://mobuilding.eu/ 

DIGI-FRAME kicked off in Palermo: assessing students’ digital skills with AI

Written by Chara Pilidou on . Posted in Project News.

On 10–11 June 2026, the DIGI-FRAME consortium held its kick-off meeting in Palermo, Italy, hosted by project coordinator CESIE ETS. Thirteen partners from six countries (Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Serbia and Romania) launched this new Erasmus+ Forward-Looking project, which will develop an AI-powered framework and platform for assessing the digital skills of lower secondary school students, aligned with the European DigComp framework.

Although young people grow up surrounded by digital technologies, teachers and schools still lack practical tools to assess how well students use them critically and creatively. DIGI-FRAME will close this gap together with the people it serves: teachers, students, school leaders and staff, EdTech experts, researchers and policymakers.

Over the two days, partners presented their organisations and agreed on the work plan, management structure and financial procedures. The consortium discussed the research and mapping of existing assessment practices, led by UNITBV, the co-creation of the framework, led by INCOMA, and the piloting phase in schools, led by Headway. CARDET presented the quality assurance, evaluation and monitoring strategy, which it leads, ensuring the quality and impact of the project throughout its three years. GrantXpert introduced the dissemination strategy and the first visual identity proposals.

Next steps include national research in all partner countries, followed by co-creation workshops with teachers, students and experts, and school piloting involving 50 teachers and around 250 students in five countries.”

Digi frame logo cardet eu funded

DIGI-FRAME: AI-Powered Digital Skills Assessment Framework

Written by Chara Pilidou on . Posted in Digital Learning, Education, Projects & Initiatives.

DIGI-FRAME (AI-Powered Digital Skills Assessment Framework) develops an innovative, AI-supported methodology and platform for assessing the digital competences of school students, fully aligned with the European DigComp framework. Although young people grow up surrounded by digital technologies, schools still lack practical, reliable tools to assess how well students can use them critically and creatively.

DIGI-FRAME addresses this gap by mapping national practices in six countries, co-creating an assessment framework with teachers, students and EdTech experts through 15 co-creation workshops, and developing an AI-powered assessment platform.

The framework and platform are piloted in five countries with 5 schools, 50 teachers and around 250 students, supported by an international training event for educators.

The project applies strict ethical AI, GDPR and child-protection safeguards, keeping teachers in control of assessment decisions. Results, policy recommendations and a sustainability plan are shared widely to support uptake across Europe.