👓💙 Seeing the world through kindness!
As part of our #twenty4twenty campaign, we were proud to support a heartfelt initiative by collecting used and old eyeglasses for people in need. All donations were delivered to the Limassol Lions Club! 🌍✨
Thanks to everyone who contributed, your gently used eyeglasses will now help others see more clearly. 👀💫
The CARDET spirit continues to shine strong! 💪💙
#CARDET #EyeglassesForAll #VisionForChange
Συνέντευξη με τη Δρ. Έρια Μακρίδου, Director of Program Development, για την πορεία και τα επιτεύγματα του CARDET
Το CARDET, ένα από τα κορυφαία μη κερδοσκοπικά κέντρα έρευνας και καινοτομίας στην Ευρώπη, γιορτάζει φέτος 20 χρόνια λειτουργίας, προσφέροντας εκπαιδευτική καινοτομία και κοινωνική ενδυνάμωση. Στη συνέντευξή της στην «Καθημερινή», η Δρ. Έρια Μακρίδου, Director of Program Development, μοιράζεται την πορεία του οργανισμού, πώς οι προκλήσεις γίνονται ευκαιρίες και γιατί ο άνθρωπος παραμένει πάντα στο επίκεντρο του εκπαιδευτικού μέλλοντος.
Η 20ετής Διαδρομή και οι Πυλώνες της Επιτυχίας
– Μπορείς να μοιραστείς μαζί μας μια καθοριστική στιγμή ”σταθμό” στην 20ετή πορεία του CARDET και πώς αυτή διαμόρφωσε τη φιλοσοφία σας;
– Η πορεία μας όλα αυτά τα χρόνια βασίστηκε σε τρεις σταθερούς πυλώνες: τις αξίες μας- εκπαίδευση, καινοτομία και κοινωνική δικαιοσύνη- τη δύναμη της ομάδα μας και τις συνεργασίες μας, αλλά και την ικανότητά μας να μετατρέπουμε κάθε πρόκληση σε ευκαιρία για πρόοδο και εξέλιξη. Αν έπρεπε να ξεχωρίσω μια στιγμή, θα έλεγα ήταν η περίοδος που βρεθήκαμε αντιμέτωποι με τις ραγδαίες τεχνολογικές εξελίξεις και τις αυξανόμενες κοινωνικές ανισότητες.
Ως ομάδα, αντιμετωπίσαμε αυτό το γεγονός ως μια ευκαιρία να επαναπροσδιορίσουμε την αποστολή μας. Θυμάμαι χαρακτηριστικά ένα πρόγραμμα ψηφιακής ενδυνάμωσης για ευάλωτες ομάδες που σχεδιάσαμε και υλοποιήσαμε. Βλέποντας το αντίκτυπο, εκεί συνειδητοποιείς για άλλη μια φορά πώς η ανθεκτικότητα, η δημιουργικότητα και η ικανότητα να καινοτομείς και να προσφέρεις μπορεί πραγματικά να αλλάξει την καθημερινότητα και τις ζωές των ανθρώπων που επωφελούνται. Το ίδιο συνέβη και σε άλλες κρίσιμες καμπές, όπως οι περίοδοι έντονων κοινωνικών και μεταναστευτικών προκλήσεων, που μας ώθησαν να σταθούμε δίπλα στις κοινότητες με ακόμα μεγαλύτερη αποφασιστικότητα και ζήλο. Αυτές οι εμπειρίες μας έμαθαν ότι κάθε ‘δυσκολία’ μπορεί να γίνει αφετηρία για νέα δυναμική και εξέλιξη.
Με αυτή την προσέγγιση, καταφέραμε να ωφελήσουμε πάνω από 3 εκατομμύρια ανθρώπους σε όλο τον κόσμο, μετατρέποντας το αρχικό μας όραμα σε πράξεις με μετρήσιμο και διαρκή αντίκτυπο. Η φιλοσοφία μας, ουσιαστικά, διαμορφώθηκε μέσα από πράξεις: Στο CARDET δεν περιμένουμε το μέλλον να συμβεί, αλλά το σχεδιάζουμε και το δημιουργούμε, με επίκεντρο πάντα τον άνθρωπο.
Η Κουλτούρα του CARDET και οι Συνεργασίες
– Μιλήσατε για τη δυναμική σας ομάδα και τις συνεργασίες. Πώς διασφαλίζει η κουλτούρα του CARDET την καινοτομία και τον ανθρώπινο προσανατολισμό της ομάδας σας, ειδικά όταν απευθύνεστε σε τόσο μεγάλο κοινό;
– Η κουλτούρα του CARDET στηρίζεται στην ενσυναίσθηση, την καινοτομία και την συνεχή προσήλωση στον κοινωνικό αντίκτυπο. Είμαστε ένας ερευνητικός οργανισμός που αποτελείται από μια πολύ ικανή ομάδα επαγγελματιών και οραματιστών που πιστεύουν στη δύναμη της εκπαίδευσης να μεταμορφώνει ζωές προς το καλύτερο. Ως οργανισμός με έδρα στην Κύπρο, αισθανόμαστε μια ιδιαίτερη ευθύνη να λειτουργούμε ως γέφυρα γνώσης και καινοτομίας στην Ευρώπη και διεθνώς. Αυτή η κουλτούρα τροφοδοτεί και τις συνεργασίες μας. Επιδιώκουμε σχέσεις με φορείς που μοιράζονται το ίδιο όραμα και αξίες, όπως είναι το Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, το Συμβούλιο της Ευρώπης, η UNICEF, η Microsoft και δεκάδες άλλοι στρατηγικοί εταίροι.
Προκλήσεις και Ευκαιρίες στον Τομέα της Εκπαίδευσης
– Κοιτώντας μπροστά, ποιες είναι οι επόμενες μεγάλες προκλήσεις και οι ευκαιρίες που βλέπετε στον τομέα της εκπαίδευσης και της κοινωνικής ενδυνάμωσης, ειδικά με την ραγδαία εξέλιξη της τεχνολογίας;
– Το μέλλον της εκπαίδευσης είναι άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένο με την τεχνολογία, την εξατομίκευση της μάθησης και την ανάπτυξη δεξιοτήτων για την μεταβαλλόμενη αγορά εργασίας. Η Τεχνητή Νοημοσύνη, για παράδειγμα, παρουσιάζει τεράστιες ευκαιρίες για εξατομικευμένη μάθηση, αλλά και προκλήσεις όσον αφορά την ηθική χρήση και την ισότιμη πρόσβαση.
Οι προκλήσεις βρίσκονται στο να διασφαλίσουμε ότι κανείς δεν μένει πίσω. Να γεφυρώσουμε, δηλαδή, το ψηφιακό χάσμα, να καλλιεργήσουμε κριτική σκέψη και να προετοιμάσουμε τους πολίτες για επαγγέλματα που ακόμη δεν έχουν δημιουργηθεί. Ωστόσο, αυτές οι προκλήσεις είναι ταυτόχρονα και τεράστιες ευκαιρίες. Η τεχνολογία μας επιτρέπει να φτάσουμε σε κοινότητες που πριν ήταν δύσκολα προσβάσιμες και να προσφέρουμε μάθηση προσαρμοσμένη στις ανάγκες του κάθε ανθρώπου ξεχωριστά.
Σχέδια και Στρατηγικές του CARDET για το Μέλλον
– Με βάση αυτές τις διαπιστώσεις, ποια είναι τα βασικά σχέδια και οι στρατηγικές του CARDET για τα επόμενα χρόνια, ώστε να παραμείνει στην πρώτη γραμμή της καινοτομίας και να συνεχίσει να δημιουργεί θετικό αντίκτυπο;
– Ένα από τα πιο σημαντικά βήματα στη στρατηγική μας είναι η ίδρυση της Learning Edge, που αξιοποιεί ουσιαστικά την 20ετή εμπειρία του CARDET σε συνάρτηση με διεθνώς δοκιμασμένες μεθοδολογίες. Η Learning Edge δημιουργήθηκε για να καλύψει την αυξανόμενη ανάγκη για επανεκπαίδευση και αναβάθμιση δεξιοτήτων σε επιχειρήσεις και επαγγελματίες, προσφέροντας λύσεις ψηφιακού μετασχηματισμού, βελτιστοποίηση επιχειρησιακών διαδικασιών, συμβουλευτική ανθρώπινου δυναμικού, εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα και εργαλεία Τεχνητής Νοημοσύνης. Στόχος μας, δηλαδή, είναι να ενισχύσουμε οργανισμούς και ανθρώπους ώστε να ανταποκρίνονται με επιτυχία στις συνεχείς αλλαγές του επιχειρηματικού κόσμου και να παραμένουν ανθεκτικοί και ανταγωνιστικοί.
Παράλληλα, θα συνεχίσουμε να επενδύουμε στην έρευνα και στην ανάπτυξη καινοτόμων ψηφιακών εργαλείων και να δημιουργούμε προγράμματα που επικεντρώνονται σε κρίσιμες δεξιότητες του 21ου αιώνα. Θέλουμε,επίσης, να προσεγγίσουμε ακόμα περισσότερες ευάλωτες ομάδες, ενισχύοντας την κοινωνική δικαιοσύνη.
Ο στόχος μας είναι δεν είναι να παρακολουθούμε απλά τις αλλαγές, αλλά να τις διαμόρφωνουμε ενεργά. Η δέσμευσή μας για καινοτομία με ανθρώπινο πρόσωπο παραμένει ο οδηγός μας, καθώς συνεχίζουμε να χτίζουμε πάνω στην κληρονομιά των 20 ετών, έτοιμοι για τις προκλήσεις και τις ευκαιρίες του αύριο.
Το μέλλον της εκπαίδευσης δεν είναι μόνο ψηφιακό ή τεχνολογικό. Είναι πάνω από όλα ανθρώπινο. Αυτήν την ανθρώπινη διάσταση θέλουμε να συνεχίσουμε να υπηρετούμε με αφοσίωση και τα επόμενα χρόνια.
Δημοσιεύτηκε στην Καθημερινή, εδώ.
Partners of the GLITTER project (Strengthening learners’ digital well-being using effective teaching practices and digital environments) gathered in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 2–3 October 2025 for a transnational project meeting (TPM) hosted by CARDET.
The event brought together representatives from CARDET (Cyprus), KONNEKTABLE TECHNOLOGIES (Greece), UAV (Romania), Wonderful Education (Italy), and PCG (Poland) to review project progress and plan next steps in advancing digital well-being across European schools.
Over two productive days, partners discussed the ongoing work within each work package, including mapping best practices, designing the whole-school approach to digital well-being, and developing practical tools to be piloted in schools across Cyprus, Italy, Poland, and Romania. UAV led in-depth sessions on national mappings and comparative analysis, while WE presented updates on the design and development of practical instruments. CARDET guided discussions on pilot implementation and evaluation strategies, ensuring that forthcoming activities align with the project’s overall objectives.
In addition, the consortium addressed project management, financial coordination, communication, and sustainability strategies. The GLITTER communication team, coordinated by CARDET and KT with support from UAV, WE, and PCG, reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the project’s visibility and impact through strategic dissemination, social media engagement, and stakeholder outreach.
Through these collaborative efforts, GLITTER aims to develop and test an evidence-based whole-school approach to enhance digital well-being in education, supporting teachers, learners, and policymakers in fostering safer and more empowering digital environments.
The meeting concluded with an engaging networking dinner in the heart of old Nicosia, further strengthening collaboration and partnership spirit among the project teams.
Learn more about the project at https://glitter-project.eu/
On 2 October 2025, the Old Nicosia Town Hall became the stage for a timely discussion on the pressures faced by civil society organisations (CSOs) and their implications for democracy during the Cyprus Forum 2025. The event was organised under the EU-funded Civic Champions project, with CARDET as Knowledge Partner.
Entitled “The Shrinking Space for Civil Society: Challenges and Prospects”, the event addressed how policies, funding frameworks, and legislation, alongside digital and physical threats, are reshaping the operating environment of CSOs in Cyprus and across Southern Europe. Drawing on recent research, the dialogue highlighted key concerns such as restrictive regulations, bureaucratic hurdles, banking and funding barriers, online harassment, and a polarised public discourse — all of which risk weakening the role of CSOs in democratic life
The panel featured insightful contributions from:
The discussion was moderated by Foteini Sokratous, Project Manager and Researcher at CARDET.
Learn more about the Civic Champions Forum here!
#OnMyMind #MoreToSay Campaign Aims to Reduce Stigma and Encourage Help-Seeking Based on Groundbreaking Report Findings on youth mental health in Cyprus
The Ministry of Health, in partnership with UNICEF and with the support of the European Commission, has launched a national communication campaign to promote mental well-being among young people in Cyprus.
Running from September to November, the campaign, titled #OnMyMind #MoreToSay (and #ΜίλαΑνοιχτά #ΕίναιΟΚoτιΝιώθεις in Greek), aims to address the rising levels of anxiety, depression, and stress faced by youth, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative is part of the larger “Supporting Mental Health Resilience among Youth in Cyprus” project, which is fully underway.
The campaign is built on the findings of a groundbreaking national report, “Supporting mental health and care for the wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people” coordinated and run by CARDET with the support of the Youth Board of Cyprus and the Cyprus Youth Council. This study provides the first comprehensive mapping of youth mental health in Cyprus, revealing that 86% of youth report high levels of anxiety and uncertainty about the future, while 75% feel constant pressure and stress. Furthermore, although 60% of young people said they needed to visit a mental health professional, fewer than half (43%) actually did so, due to stigma, lack of awareness, or limited access. Its recommendations have directly informed the National Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan.
Through social media, podcasts, TV appearances, articles and events—the campaign will share tips, helplines, and resources to normalize conversations about mental health and empower young people to seek help. It targets not only youth aged 15–24, but also parents, educators, caregivers, and the wider community.
“Supporting the mental well-being of our youth is not just a health priority—it is a national priority”, highlights Alexandros Tifas, Mental Health Nursing Officer of the Ministry of Health. “By investing in youth resilience today, we safeguard the future of our society. This project represents an important step towards creating a Cyprus where every young person feels supported, heard, and empowered to seek help without stigma”.
Beyond addressing immediate needs, the initiative lays the groundwork for a long-term National Mental Health Strategy. By aligning with international best practices and actively involving young people in designing solutions, Cyprus is taking decisive steps toward a sustainable and inclusive approach to mental health. The project has also been reviewed and approved by the Cyprus National Bioethics Committee, ensuring ethical compliance and respect for the voices of young participants.
Follow the campaign on the Youth Board of Cyprus and CARDET social media channels, or under the hashtags #OnMyMind #MoreToSay and #ΜίλαΑνοιχτά #ΕίναιΟΚoτιΝιώθεις for updates and useful resources.
Youth Board of Cyprus social media:
CARDET social media:
The project Supporting Mental Health Resilience among Youth in Cyprus is funded by the European Commission via the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Cyprus. CARDET coordinates the research component with the support of the Youth Board of Cyprus (ONEK) and the Cyprus Youth Council (CYC). Project Reference: ECARO/PCA202294/SPD2024252
Read the full report here!
For further information and support regarding Mental Health, click here!
The newly developed curriculum offers a comprehensive educational journey into social entrepreneurship, specifically designed to cultivate a social innovation mindset among young people in the Western Balkans. Structured across six core modules, the program guides learners from the foundational trends of social entrepreneurship and the EntreComp Framework to the practicalities of social business modeling and opportunity identification. To ensure a holistic learning experience, the content is delivered through an interactive eCourse and a downloadable PDF, complemented by a series of assessments that validate the acquisition of key entrepreneurial skills.
Beyond the core instructional content, the implementation strategy includes a specialized Train the Trainers Manual, serving as a definitive guide for educators to deliver the curriculum effectively. This is further supported by a suite of supplementary materials and resources that bridge the gap between social work and entrepreneurial initiatives. By providing these tools, the initiative ensures that trainers and participants alike are equipped with a toolkit to navigate social innovation, from initial planning to the successful execution of social business models.
Training implementation across the Western Balkans showed high engagement. In Kosovo, 83% of participants were women, and over 70% of youth found the curriculum completely relevant. Albania’s
sessions integrated local social enterprises, with 92.9% of youth rating the training’s utility as high. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a youth-led approach provided many participants with their first structured exposure to social entrepreneurship.
Learn more about the EPIC project here: https://epic-project.eu/
The EU Presidency Project 5 (EUPP5) is a civil society-led initiative, funded by the European Commission, implemented during the EU Council Presidency Trio of Poland, Denmark, and Cyprus (October 2024 – September 2026).
On 26 September 2025, the Civic Champions Project convened its International Consultation Meeting on Safeguarding Civic Space in the EU at Impact Hub Vienna. The event brought together representatives from European institutions, civil society organisations, local authorities, and digital innovation experts to address pressing challenges facing civic space across the region.
The meeting opened with remarks from Mariyan K. Sabev, Director of Communications & Senior Security Analyst at the Center for the Study of Democracy, and Rania El Ampasy, Civic Engagement and Governance Unit Coordinator at KMOP. They underlined the urgency of reinforcing civic freedoms and fostering resilience in the face of growing pressures on democratic participation.
In the session Civic Space at a Crossroads – Threats and Resilience in Focus, leading experts including Waltraud Heller (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights), Shams Asadi (Head of Human Rights Office, City of Vienna), Hedvig Morvai (ERSTE Stiftung), and Cristina Marcuzzo (DG Research & Innovation, European Commission) shared perspectives on current challenges and strategies to safeguard civic space.
The keynote address, Smarter Safeguards – How Digital Tools Can Protect Democratic Space, was delivered by Arno Scharl, Managing Partner at webLyzard technology, highlighting how innovative technologies can support civil society organisations (CSOs) in navigating emerging threats.
A central focus of the consultation was the presentation of the Early Warning Mechanism (EWM) by Rania El Ampasy, showcasing its potential as a monitoring tool to identify risks and provide timely responses for CSOs. Participants later engaged in a Feedback and Q&A session to further shape and strengthen the EWM.
The consultation concluded with closing remarks from Rania El Ampasy, emphasising the importance of collaboration and joint commitment to preserving democratic space across the EU.
This international gathering marks an important milestone in the Civic Champions Project’s mission to foster dialogue, strengthen safeguards, and empower civil society in Europe.
Learn more about the Civic Champions Project here.
On 24 September 2025, the European Parliament in Brussels hosted the Final EU Policy Roundtable of the Just4All project, bringing together policymakers, civil society representatives, and education experts to explore how adult learning can drive a fair and inclusive green and digital transition.
The event kicked off with opening remarks from the Secretary-General of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), Raffaela Kihrer. This introduction highlighted the goal of the project not only to give people skills to engage in democratic processes which foster a just transition, but to equip people with the power and voice to face a changing political landscape.
MEP Victor Negrescu (S&D) then took the floor to deliver the keynote speech. The speech focused on the need to put people in the driver’s seat when it comes to the multiple transitions Europe is facing, and the outcomes of the Just4All project, which put forward concrete means of achieving this. Over the past two years, Just4All has developed innovative tools and policy recommendations to ensure that vulnerable groups—particularly migrants, women, and low-skilled adults—are not left behind in Europe’s transformations.
The programme featured national insights from the project partners, the presentation of the Just4All multilingual MOOC and Toolkit, and a policy roundtable with EU officials, academics, and civil society leaders. Insights from each of the national project partners in their contexts, were presented by: Xanthia Aristidou, CARDET, Cyprus, Lorraine O’Connor, AONTAS, Ireland, Jörgen Danielsson, ABF, Sweden, Océane Danieli, Ligue de l’Enseignement, France. The Just4All toolkit was presented by Angeliki Giannakopoulou, Senior Policy and Project Coordinator at EAEA. Then, the policy roundtable got underway. The discussion was moderated by Elisa Gambardella, Education and Lifelong Learning Coordinator at SOLIDAR, and heard inputs from: Frank Siebern-Thomas, Head of Unit F.3 in DG EMPL working on Fair Green and Digital Transitions, Majda Richer, Projects and Research Associate, International Council for Adult Education (ICAE), Gaetano Sciarotta, Policy Officer, SOLIDAR.
Frank Siebern-Thomas reflected on how to disseminate the recommendations stemming from the project further and the need for consultation with civil society to reach target groups in social inclusion policies such as those addressed by Just4All. Majda Richer spoke about the key role that partnerships play in advancing a just transition, and the need to harness partnerships to ensure civic education allows all voices to be heard as part of just transitions. Gaetano Sciarotta finished by presenting the roadmap and recommendations which came out of the Just4All project, which target policy-makers as well as educators and civil society working on adult education and lifelong learning.
The event was closed by SOLIDAR’s Secretary-General, Mikael Leyi, who delivered a call to action to continue centring people – including marginalised groups – in our work to advance a just transition for all. Closing reflections highlighted the project’s strong contribution to the European Pillar of Social Rights, especially in advancing lifelong learning (Principle 1) and equal access to services (Principle 20). Participants underlined the urgent need for continued investment in inclusive adult education to ensure no one is excluded from Europe’s green and digital future.
The Just4All project (2023–2025) leaves behind a legacy of practical tools, evidence-based policy recommendations, and a forward-looking Road Map that will continue to inform European strategies for social fairness and sustainable development.
Learn more about the Just4All project by visiting its website.
Following completion of the DISCOVER training resource package – comprising the Curriculum for VET Providers, the Curriculum for VET Trainers and the Master Trainers’ Handbook – and the subsequent online Training of Trainers programme involving approximately 20 Tunisian trainers, the project progressed to the implementation phase.
Between May and June, and again in September 2025, the three partner Tunisian VET centres – CFA Bizerte, CFA Menzel Bourguiba and CSFAG Ariana – each delivered two training courses: one dedicated to VET Providers and one dedicated to VET Trainers. In total, six training implementations were conducted across the three centres.
These sessions were facilitated by the DISCOVER “Master Trainers”, previously selected and prepared through the dedicated online ToT. This implementation phase therefore represented the first full deployment of the DISCOVER training resources in real training environments.
Across all sites, 75 VET professionals participated. According to the data submitted by the centres, and based on participant feedback collected through the evaluation tools, the training initiatives achieved very positive results. Participants highlighted the high relevance and usefulness of the content, the balance of theory and practice, and the value added by the blend of classroom activities, digital tools and interactive exercises. The blended learning model, the collaborative approach and the strong focus on practical application were collectively viewed as key drivers of learning impact.
Learn more about the project by visiting the project’s website.
