Author: Nikolina Frangoullidou

Raise the BAR anti-racism educational system in Cyprus

It’s Time to Raise the BAR Against Racism Across Schools

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 08/05/2024. Posted in Project News.

In a bid to tackle racism head-on within educational institutions, the Raise the BAR initiative has been launched, marking a pivotal moment in the fight against discrimination in schools. The initiative aims to instill anti-racism principles deeply within the fabric of educational systems across Cyprus and Europe.

At its core, Raise the BAR seeks to empower educators with the necessary tools and strategies to cultivate anti-racism attitudes and behaviors among students. Recognising the pivotal role of teachers in shaping young minds, the initiative prioritises comprehensive training programs designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively implement anti-racism pedagogy in their classrooms.

The partner meeting, held in Valencia earlier this month, marked a significant milestone in the initiative’s journey. Participants convened to outline a roadmap for the project, with discussions centering on key steps to be taken, including forthcoming teacher training sessions and the development of a policy paper outlining practical recommendations for fostering inclusive environments within schools.

With tensions surrounding racial inequality and discrimination on the rise globally, the need for action within educational settings has never been more pressing. As the initiative gains momentum, stakeholders remain optimistic about the transformative impact it will have on shaping the attitudes and behaviors of future generations, paving the way for a more equitable and just society.

Raise the BAR: Becoming Anti-Racist Schools

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 08/05/2024. Posted in Projects & Initiatives.

Raise the BAR aims to contribute to combating racism, discrimination and inequality in EU schools, targeting teachers and students (10-16 years). It will promote inclusion, diversity and equality frameworks by developing resources to prepare schools and teachers to initiate and implement effective educational strategies to foster students’ anti-racism, personal development, democratic values, adherence to fundamental rights and critical thinking.

The project will address the impacts of racism, discrimination, and cultural, social and economic barriers. This will be achieved by collaborating with teachers (and students) in the co-design of:

The Continuous Training programme for teachers, “Becoming Anti-Racist Teachers”, to promote their professional development
The “Becoming Anti-Racist Toolkit” for students (10-16 years), with activities to foster anti-racism
The “Raise the BAR – Becoming Anti-Racist Schools” Policy Paper, with practical recommendations for schools and school managers on the implementation of anti-racist pedagogy and global education.

UXGE event in Cyprus to present the objectives and the impact of the project

Presenting United For Green Europe Project at Agios Antonios Lyceum

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 30/04/2024. Posted in Project News.

We had the utmost pleasure to once again showcase our commitment to nurturing future leaders in environmental stewardship with the unveiling of the United for Green Europe (ExGE) project. The event took place at Agios Antonios Lyceum on April 25 and April 29, where students and educators got a taste of the project’s objectives, potential impact, as well as opportunities to get involved.

The ExGE project, spearheaded by CARDET, aims to empower young leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to address pressing environmental challenges and champion sustainable practices within their communities. By fostering qualities such as leadership, critical thinking, and environmental awareness, the initiative seeks to create a culture of proactive individuals equipped to drive positive change.

During the presentation, attendees engaged in discussions about the significance of leadership in the context of environmental sustainability and explored the multifaceted aspects of the project, including its activities and anticipated outcomes. Notably, there was a keen interest in enhancing understanding about the European Union initiatives, underscoring the importance of global cooperation in tackling environmental issues.

The event was marked by lively debates and insightful inquiries, reflecting the enthusiasm and dedication of participants towards promoting a greener, more sustainable future. Through initiatives like the ExGE project, CARDET continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of environmentally conscious leaders, poised to make a meaningful difference in their communities and beyond.

SportGVP Launch official meeting in Cyprus

Sport GVP Kickoff Meeting in Cyprus Marks the Official Launch

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 29/04/2024. Posted in Project News.

The Sport GVP project, aimed at combating gender-based violence in and through sports, commenced with its kickoff meeting in Cyprus on the 25th and 26th of April. Hosted by CARDET, the meeting gathered stakeholders and partners in an attempt to lay the groundwork for this vital initiative.

At the heart of the project lies a comprehensive program targeting multifaceted actions to prevent and address gender-based violence within the realm of sports. Discussions during the kickoff meeting largely revolved around delineating the project’s objectives, goals, and timelines for effective intervention. Participants also engaged in dialogues to align their visions and expectations, ensuring a unified approach towards the project’s success.

The Sport GVP project aims not only to generate knowledge and data on the prevalence and forms of gender-based violence in sports but also to pave the way for effective responses and actions. Emphasising the promotion of equality in sports, the project seeks to combat violence, racism, discrimination, and intolerance within sporting communities.

Following the kickoff meeting, stakeholders are confident that with collaboration and dedication, the Sport GVP project will make significant strides in eradicating gender-based violence in sports.
For more information about this initiative, please visit the official website.

Do you really know what twin transition is?

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 22/04/2024. Posted in Project News.

Our fuTOURiSME project aims at promoting twin transition of European tourism SMEs, but do you really know what twin transition means?

Twin transition refers to two interrelated core aspects: digitalization and sustainability. Regarding sustainability is about guaranteeing a balance between the environment, social and economic dimensions of companies, according to the Triple Bottom Line theory proposed by John Elkinton in the late 1990s. It is then about reducing environmental impacts and mitigating them, ensuring the local communities’ well-being and creating prosperity for the long-term from an economic perspective. And what about digitalization? This term is related to the transversal integration of digital technologies in companies in order to improve efficiency, productivity and effectiveness.

We can easily see how both concepts are crucial for all types of companies, which of course involves SMEs, because they contribute to cost management and saving, risk mitigation, market opportunities and competitive advantages, access to green finance, talent attraction and long-term continuity and viability. However, COVID crisis acknowledged a low degree of both aspects among tourism SMEs.

Within this context, the European Union has developed several initiatives to foster green and digital transformation of Tourism SMEs in Member Countries, what we call a Twin Transition. Events, research (on digitalization & sustainability), and funding calls are good examples of this point.

Our project, fuTOURiSME, is one of the EU co-funded projects that aims at supporting SMEs in the sector of experiential tourism, overcome the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemics and emerge from the new socio-economic environment, through new business models, innovative services, skills & utilisation of twin transition (digital and sustainable) solutions.

At this point, we are preparing a compendium of needs and good practices on the fields of digitalization and sustainability by interviewing tourism SMEs from Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Germany. The idea is to be able to map the status quo that will guide the design of training and capacity building activities, as well as the definition of the Open Call for tourism SMEs. These planned activities will provide the experiential tourism SMEs with an opportunity to finally start the above-mentioned twin transition!

If you want to be updated about our progress, don’t let us out of your sight!

JUST4ALL: Building Social Innovation Learning Laboratories in Europe through a Just Transition for All and with All

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 18/04/2024. Posted in Projects & Initiatives.

Just4All is an initiative promoting a just transition through inclusive and innovative lifelong learning and adult education. The project’s overall objective is to support an inclusive recovery and digital and green transitions in Europe. More specifically, it aims to develop integrated, inclusive, and innovative adult learning and education (ALE) models that promote just transition, with a special focus on migrants, women, and low-skilled adults.

Through this project, the consortium aims to develop new tools, including a Massive Open Open Online Course (MOOC) to promote just transition through far reaching and inclusive teaching, facilitate to groups in a vulnerable situation including migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and women access to education and content related to just transition, and inform policymakers of the current situation, strengthening policies related to a just transition and facilitating the exchange of information and expertise among practitioners.

Just4All will facilitate the implementation of the first principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) on Access to Education, training and life-long learning, and its 20th on Access to Basic Services.

Sport GVP: Preventing Gender Based Violence in and through Sport

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 10/04/2024. Posted in Projects & Initiatives.

The Sport GVP project puts forward a comprehensive program that entails multifaceted actions to contribute to the prevention and tackling of gender-based violence in and through sport. It involves a structured set of activities that wish to generate knowledge and data on the extent and forms gender-based violence appears in sport in the implementing countries and pave the way for responses and actions in and through sport to prevent and tackle violence against individuals on the basis of their gender.

Specifically, the scope, work and objectives the project will primarily focus on promoting the Sport’s programme’s priority to combat violence and tackle racism, discrimination and intolerance in sport’ which calls for actions to combat said behaviours, fight any form of discrimination and promote equality in sport.

shorewinner project kick off meeting offshore wind energy

The Official Launch of the SHOREWINNER Project

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 29/03/2024. Posted in Project News.

We are very excited to announce the launch of the SHOREWINNER project, an innovative initiative aimed at establishing and nurturing a Southern European offshore wind energy Community of Practice (CoP). This collaborative effort brings together five Centers of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus to explore the potential of offshore wind energy resources in the Mediterranean Sea

The project began its journey on the 1st of March, with an online kick-off meeting on the 19th of March. Representatives from 23 consortium members across the five countries came together to lay the foundation for this important and timely initiative. The kick-off session featured a warm welcome from the project coordinator and insightful presentations from project leaders outlining their respective tasks and responsibilities. We’re thrilled to now join forces and proceed to the development of excellent vocational education and training curricula, foster cross-border cooperation, and drive skill development and innovation in the offshore wind energy sector.

Stay tuned for more updates and for the official website of the project.

Ageing Well – Science-based habits of people who age well

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 19/03/2024. Posted in Projects & Initiatives.

Ageing Well project, focuses on enhancing the well-being and quality of life for elderly populations. Its initiative focuses on tackling the distinct challenges encountered by older adults, including loneliness, isolation, racism, and communication barriers. By promoting active aging, we aim to empower elderly individuals and their caregivers while fostering supportive communities. Through innovative research, tailored training programs, and policy advocacy, we strive to promote positive mental health outcomes and create inclusive environments where older adults can thrive.

Green League: Eight Events in Cyprus – Four Elements of Nature through

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 15/03/2024. Posted in Project News.

The eight events took place from July 2023 to January 2024 for the Green League project. Each sports event focuses on a different sport and corresponds to one of the four elements of nature.

Beach Soccer – Water

Canoe/Kayak – Water

Yoga – Earth

Cycling – Earth

Running – Fire

Hiking – Fire

Qigong – Air

Pilates – Air

The success of these sports events is the methodology used for their planning and execution. Each event was conducted sustainably and promoted intergenerational dialogue among participants.

The events follow the principles of experiential learning, utilizing nature both as a backdrop and as a teacher. Participants took part in events inspired by the Four Elements of Nature, which provided an opportunity for everyone to engage in outdoor sports while also reflecting individually and in groups on the complex relationship between the environment and sports.

For more information, visit our website.