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Author: Veronica Charalambous

Primacenters – Local Employment Eenters to Support Migrants’ Socio-economic Integration in the Primary Sector

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Projects & Initiatives, Youth, Rights & Inclusion.

Primacenters’ goal is to promote multistakeholder efforts for the effective socio -economic integration of migrants, both women and men, in the primary sector, by developing and piloting tailored and effective support services and mechanisms in the field. It builds on identified needs and gaps and engages a diversified group of organizations in a collective effort to support migrants’ effective integration and decent working conditions in the primary sector by working with both the migrants and the employers. Its strategy is branched in 5 strands of interventions:

1) Networking & knowledge gathering to mobilize key stakeholders, create local networks and consolidated knowledge in the field,
2) Development of focused employment support mechanisms & tools to provide focused support and upgrade current practices,
3) Capacity building to increase key stakeholders’ ability to intervene in the field and apply the developed mechanisms,
4) Primacenters’ establishment and piloting to put the developed mechanisms in practice, provide “job and offer” mapping, matching and reference services, informative, support, training and referral services, community-based activities and control mechanisms for employers and migrants and assess their impact,
5) Advocacy & awareness raising to contribute to improvements in the policy frameworks, seek for mechanisms’ official adoption and raise awareness of employers, migrants and local communities on key issues around the topic.

Download e-Leaflet here (EN)

CARDET Supports Green School Network Tree-Planting Initiative in Cyprus

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Blog.

In a significant step towards promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, students from Agios Antonios Lyceum participated in a tree-planting event at D Primary School in Limassol on January 31st, 2025. This initiative, part of the Green School Network, led by Global Education and the North-South Centre, aims to engage youth with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Approximately 20 enthusiastic students from Agios Antonios Lyceum planted around 15 trees in the school yard, using digging and planting tools provided by their school. The event was part of a broader campaign that included similar tree-planting activities across high schools in Cyprus, Greece, Syria, and Tunisia. The overarching goal is to educate students on environmental preservation and raise awareness of the importance of the SDGs.

Before planting, students received an introductory session on SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 13 (Climate Action), along with hands-on guidance on proper tree-planting techniques. Following the event, an online meeting was held with international collaborators, allowing students to share their experiences and best practices with their peers from other countries.

In Cyprus, the initiative was led by CARDET, highlighting the Centre’s commitment to fostering environmental consciousness among the younger generation. This tree-planting event not only enhanced the school’s greenery but also instilled a sense of responsibility in students, empowering them to contribute actively to a sustainable future.

Ageing Well Project: Empowering Caregivers Through A Transformative Learning Experience 

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

A groundbreaking learning opportunity for caregivers supporting the elderly took place online on January 27-28, 2024. The Ageing Well Project, with the active participation of CARDET, successfully delivered a Train-the-Trainers Master Class, offering invaluable insights and practical strategies for enhancing the well-being of older adults.

The interactive sessions featured live-evoking presentations and fostered the exchange of best practices in compassionate caregiving. Caregivers and adult educators engaged in discussions on critical topics, including:

  • Raising awareness of age discrimination and stereotypes
  • Understanding and mapping the fundamental needs of the elderly
  • Building a strong foundation for well-being and quality of life
  • Monitoring and supporting elderly individuals in their well-being practices
  • Effective communication strategies for engaging with the elderly
  • Encouraging positive lifestyle changes and active ageing
  • Addressing compassion fatigue and prioritizing self-care for caregivers

This initiative provided participants with actionable tools and knowledge to enhance their caregiving approaches, ultimately promoting a more supportive and inclusive environment for elderly individuals.

The Ageing Well Project is dedicated to improving the lives of older adults and those who support them. By offering innovative tools, training, and resources, we aim to promote well-being, resilience, and active engagement in society.

For those interested in fostering positive ageing experiences, further resources and information can be accessed through the project’s website, here.

MILES Project Hosts TPM and ToT in Cluj-Napoca, Advancing Media Literacy

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

From January 22nd to 24th, 2025, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, hosted the Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) and Training of Trainers (ToT) for the Media and Information Literacy and Pre-bunking Approaches for Critical Thinking in the Education Sector (MILES) Project. This event brought together partners from across the initiative to finalize key components of the project and prepare for upcoming teacher training programs.

The meeting provided a collaborative platform for partners to review and enhance the materials developed for the MILES project. Participants worked together to refine the training modules, brainstorm methodological frameworks for both Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and Continuous Professional Development (CPD), and validate the final versions of exercises, games, and self-evaluation tools. These resources are tailored to equip teachers with effective strategies to address societal challenges in the online environment, particularly disinformation. More details related to this can be found here.

The MILES Project, an Erasmus+ initiative, is committed to building resilience against disinformation by fostering independent and critical thinking. By integrating media and information literacy, pre-bunking techniques, and data/digital literacy into ITT and CPD programs, the project aims to empower current and future educators to navigate the complexities of the digital age.

For more information about the project, visit the official website: MILES Project.

Final Conference Concludes the Green League – Sport Alliance for the Environment Project

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

On January 24, 2025, the Green League – Sport Alliance for the Environment project culminated in a final conference held in Brussels, bringing together over 200 participants, including EU policymakers, sports and environmental stakeholders, civil society organizations (CSOs), and athletes. Τhe event showcased the project’s outcomes, promoted a greener sports sector, and highlighted the potential of sports as a powerful tool for environmental education. The conference reaffirmed the project’s dedication to fostering a sustainable and inclusive sports ecosystem across Europe.

The agenda featured a variety of engaging activities aimed at inspiring dialogue and action. Highlights included the presentation of the Green League Model, an innovative framework designed to integrate environmental awareness into sports. Attendees explored a dynamic exhibition of “Green Zines” inspired by nature’s four elements and enjoyed a documentary showcasing the project’s achievements and best moments. The conference concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by key EU stakeholders, symbolizing their commitment to establishing an EU Sport Alliance for the Environment.

Over the course of 30 months, the Green League project worked to build the capacity of sports professionals and organizations to champion sustainability through outdoor physical activities. Local Green Leagues, which combined sports tournaments with environmental initiatives, were successfully piloted, actively engaging sports clubs, young players, and amateur athletes. These efforts demonstrated the power of experiential learning and collaborative development in advancing environmental awareness within the sports sector.

The conference underscored the transformative potential of sports in addressing climate change and fostering sustainability. Discussions delved into how sports organizations can influence climate action policies, ranging from reducing energy use and implementing recycling programs to initiating community-driven environmental projects. Participants highlighted the importance of partnerships between sports entities and environmental organizations to develop impactful, scalable solutions that engage both institutions and fans.

By promoting sports as a vehicle for environmental education, the Green League project has set the stage for a new era of sustainable practices in the European sports sector. As the EU continues to prioritize sports as a means to tackle social, economic, and environmental challenges, the lessons learned and partnerships formed through this initiative provide a valuable roadmap for the future.

The conference not only marked the conclusion of the project, but also signaled the beginning of a broader movement toward a greener, more sustainable sports ecosystem.

Learn more about the project here.

Green League Event: Sports as a Catalyst for Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

The event “Role Models and Social Responsibility in Sports’’ organized by the CARDET research center in collaboration with GDA Sports, was held successfully on Wednesday, 15 January 2025, at the Cyta Amphitheater in Nicosia.  The discussion focused on the role of sports in shaping social values, promoting sustainability, and enhancing social inclusion within the framework of the European project Green League: Sport Alliance for the Environment.

The event brought together distinguished individuals from Cypriot sports, research, and civil society, who analyzed various aspects of social responsibility, sustainability in sports through green practices, and the power of sports as a catalyst for social change.

Keynote Speakers and Outcomes 

  • Nektarios Alexandrou, former international footballer, Football Youth Elite Coach, Technical Director (U14-U15) & Coach (U15) at Chalkanoras Idaliou, Founder & Director of GDA Sports LTD & Excel Football Project LTD, highlighted the importance of mental health and empowering young athletes, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to boost their confidence and help them manage pressure.
  • Maria Markou, Paralympic Powerlifter, shared her personal experiences, shedding light on the strength of inclusive integration and the challenges faced by athletes with disabilities, underlining that such challenges can serve as inspiration for society.
  • Panicos Xiourouppas, former international footballer, President of “Iliaktida Zois”, and Vice President of the initiative “Goal in Life’’, focused on the role of athletes as social role models, emphasizing the unifying power of sports in building bridges of understanding.
  • Leontios Tselepos, Lawyer and Sports Administration Consultant, elaborated on the principles of social responsibility, highlighting the need to adopt sustainable practices to strengthen trust and connections with society.
  • Constantinos Kaïlis, Operations Manager at the “Tasos Papanastasiou Foundation”, presented green initiatives in sports, stressing that environmental consciousness must be integrated into all aspects of sports activities.
  • Antonis Alexopoulos, Lecturer in Sports Sociology at the European University of Cyprus, emphasized the importance of sports facilities as a basis for promoting sustainability in local communities.
  • Marinos Papaioakeim, Team Leader of the Sustainable Development Department at CARDET, analyzed the role of athletes as sustainability ambassadors, pointing out their ability to inspire the younger generation to take action for the environment.
  • Vanessa Symeonidou, CARDET’s Project Officer, presented the Green League project and explained how sports can connect people to the environment and encourage sustainable practices through outdoor activities and environmental awareness.

The event concluded with active dialogue and an exchange of views, reaffirming the importance of sports as a tool for social change and the promotion of sustainability and diversity. Participants expressed their commitment to creating a fairer, more inclusive, and greener future through sports.

As a symbolic yet substantial gesture, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony took place, sealing the commitment of CARDET, on behalf of the Green League project, and 10 collaborating organizations, associations, and individuals to promote the principles of the Green League Model for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

The event was moderated by Mikaello Papadakis, Journalist and Director of Total Sports Marketing. For more information about the Green League project, visit the website here.

EU-INSPIRE: INnovative multi-diSciPlinary Industry-focused cybersecurity education for upskilling and ReskIlling the EU workforcE

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Digital Learning, Education, Projects & Initiatives.

EU-INSPIRE aims to revolutionize the landscape of higher education within the cybersecurity domain by cultivating new group of specialists, equipped with master-level expertise across the political, organizational, and technological dimensions of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and cyber insurance.

Its goal is to shape an advanced educational ecosystem that not only fosters the development of specialized skills but also supports the continuous upskilling and reskilling of professionals in response to evolving industry demands and challenges. EU-INSPIRE mission is to respond to the need for addressing the multifaceted educational and vocational training needs critical to support the future EU Cyber Resilience ecosystem through an innovative three-fold approach:

i) nurturing ICT personnel adept in leveraging AI-driven cybersecurity technologies to enhance the resilience of processes, systems, and digital infrastructures;

ii), cultivating cyber insurance specialists who possess a deep understanding of how cybersecurity and AI converge to protect cyber insurance policies, alongside expertise in deploying mechanisms for the assessment of cyber risks and threats; and

iii), empowering domain experts with sector-specific insights into digital transformation, who are proficient in applying cutting-edge AI solutions to cybersecurity conformity assessments.

EU-INSPIRE is set to implement strategic mechanisms aimed at engaging a diverse array of industrial and research driven communities ensuring the sustainability of the ecosystem beyond the end of the project through the development of a financially viable and cost-effective roadmap for establishing the EU-INSPIRE academy. This institution is envisioned to serve as a cornerstone of the next-generation EU Cybersecurity Foundation, fostering synergies and integration with existing EU commitments aimed at mitigating the cybersecurity skills gap.

EcoSTEAM Project Completes Successful Pilot at Lighthouse Private School

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

The EcoSTEAM Project, an Erasmus+ funded initiative aimed at enhancing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education with a focus on environmental awareness, has successfully completed its pilot phase at Lighthouse Private School in Limassol. 

Over the course of 12 weeks, 65 secondary school students and 6 STEAM educators participated in project-based activities centered on climate change, environmental conservation, and exploring future careers in STEAM fields. The pilot program featured over 12 innovative activities designed to foster creative and critical thinking while enhancing students’ collaboration skills. Participants reported significant improvements in their understanding of both local and global environmental issues, empowering them to effectively tackle sustainability and climate change challenges.

The insights gained from the pilot at Lighthouse Private School will be instrumental in shaping future educational initiatives, addressing global educational, social, and environmental challenges.

The EcoSTEAM Project’s primary objective is to disseminate and refine educational content developed during the initiative. Feedback from students and educators will be used to enhance the materials and teaching methods for future implementations. The project also involved primary school students and teachers, creating a holistic educational experience across different age groups.

For more information about the EcoSTEAM Development Project and its initiatives, please visit the website here.

Youth Leaders from Cyprus Inspire Action on Sustainability and Leadership

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

In the final week before the Christmas break, two youth leaders from Cyprus, Anastasis and Nefeli, conducted workshops promoting sustainability and leadership among high school students. Representing CARDET, they applied the knowledge and skills they had gained during the International Youth Leaders’ Meeting in Malaga, Spain, in October 2024, as part of the EU-funded UxGE project, to deliver impactful sessions at Lykeio Latsion. The workshops engaged 16 students, all aged 17, focusing on two key themes: leadership in environmental action and sustainable consumption.

The first workshop began with an introduction to leadership, highlighting its significance, various types, and examples of green leadership. Students participated in practical activities, including ranking leadership styles and analyzing case studies to identify different leadership approaches in various scenarios.

The second workshop shifted the focus to sustainable consumption. Through an interactive game, students categorized products based on their sustainability. This was followed by a presentation on sustainable shopping practices, which covered criteria for choosing environmentally friendly products and examples of best practices.

Despite it being their first time facilitating workshops, Anastasis and Nefeli excelled in engaging the participants through dynamic presentations and hands-on activities. Their efforts inspired the students to actively participate, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainability and leadership. This initiative not only demonstrated the potential of youth-led action but also empowered participants to take responsibility for promoting environmental sustainability and leadership in their communities. Anastasis and Nefeli’s dedication and creativity highlighted the critical role of youth leadership in shaping a sustainable future.

These workshops were part of the UxGE Project, which aims to holistically develop youth leaders and stakeholders. By focusing on leadership, critical thinking, sustainability, and environmental awareness, the project strives to create a robust framework for personal and professional growth. The ultimate goal is to cultivate young leaders who are not only aware of environmental challenges but also equipped to lead their communities toward sustainable practices and policies.

Learn more about the UxGE Project, here.

CARDET Participates in Teacher’s Day Professional Development Sessions

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Blog.

On December 12, 2024, CARDET actively contributed to the professional development sessions organized as part of the “Teacher’s Day” event for General Secondary, Technical, and Vocational Education and Training educators. The event, hosted by the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, served as a platform for sharing innovative practices aimed at improving school environments and supporting educational professionals.

Education is a fundamental pillar of CARDET’s work, and with many years of experience in implementing innovative programs, the organization plays a key role in empowering educators and enhancing the learning experience. As part of the event, CARDET delivered two impactful presentations:

Collegiality and Wellbeing in the School Environment
This session, presented within the frameworks of the COSERE, Ageing Well projects, addressed the importance of fostering collaboration and promoting wellbeing among educators. The sessions were held at Zakaki Gymnasium and Laniteio High School in Limassol. During these sessions, an introduction to positive psychology and the PERMA model, which promotes well-being, was provided. Educators were divided into groups and outlined the profile of the “ideal colleague”. They explored challenges and engaged in brainstorming sessions to generate creative actions aimed at fostering collegiality. These ideas were later presented to the plenary session and their school administration.

Wellbeing in the School Environment through Inclusive Education
This session, drawing from the ACT-Inclusive project, emphasized the principles of inclusive education and the importance of creating supportive, inclusive spaces for both students and teachers. It was held at Ayios Antonios High School in Limassol.

Application of Educational Digital Activities for Climate Change and Sustainable Mobility
Focusing on the enhancement of Education for Sustainable Development and Global Education within the framework of the SMILE Project, this session was presented at Agios Antonios High School in Limassol.

CARDET’s participation underscores its commitment to promoting wellbeing and inclusivity in education, aligning with its broader mission to elevate the quality of teaching and learning in schools.