Projects

Strengthening Expertise for Refugee Labour Market Inclusion – UNITE Study Visit in Copenhagen

In late August, the partners of the UNITE Project met in Copenhagen for a two-day study visit and workshop hosted by Væksthuset, a Danish organisation at the forefront of social innovation and labour market inclusion. The visit offered participants valuable insights into research-informed practices and training approaches that support refugees and jobseekers in their path towards sustainable employment. Throughout the sessions, the group explored key aspects such as: ✅ Building confidence and motivation among jobseekers✅ Designing job-oriented interventions and fostering…

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Looking Ahead: Teacher Training in Thessaloniki

The next big step for UPSPACE will take place in October 2025 in Thessaloniki: our teacher training event.Here, teachers from partner countries will pilot the newly developed curriculum, test online and classroom activities, and provide feedback.This is a crucial step to ensure that the materials are not only well-designed, but also practical, inspiring, and relevant for everyday teaching.💬 We look forward to learning from their experiences and refining the curriculum together.

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Insight into environmental education at WPZ-RUZ Reinhausen

At the WPZ-RUZ Reinhausen Environmental Education Centre, interested adults recently had the opportunity to take part in a training course within the framework of educational leave. The programme offered participants the chance to explore different modules on environmental education and to actively engage with sustainability topics. One example was the Weltacker puzzle (pictured), which opened discussions on land use, fair food distribution worldwide, and the high daily meat consumption in Germany. Such interactive formats not only make complex environmental issues…

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Action Plan Against Racism: »Enough is enough!«

In alignment with the Participa City project’s initiatives to prevent racism and discrimination against ethnic and cultural minorities across Europe, the City of Lille has introduced an innovative Territorial Action Plan targeting Racism, Antisemitism, and Discrimination Based on Origin for the years 2025–2026. This plan aims to strengthen preventive measures, encourage the participation of marginalized communities, and raise awareness among decision-makers to dismantle systemic discrimination—all core objectives shared with Participa City. On June 4, the City of Lille formally launched…

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Valuable Insights from Collected Critical Incidents Database

Over recent months, Participa City partner organizations have compiled various “critical incidents”—actual events where individuals either personally encountered discrimination due to their ethnic or cultural background or witnessed discriminatory behaviour affecting others. Analyzing these incidents has demonstrated that discrimination and racism persist widely across multiple facets of life throughout Europe. Participants reported incidents spanning diverse areas, including education, housing, and the labour market. These cases primarily involved people with migrant backgrounds and ethnic minorities, though distinct country-specific patterns also emerged.…

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Release of the Cross-Country Study

We are happy to announce the publication of the UPSPACE Cross-Country Study on EU Sustainable Development Policies! 🎉This report brings together insights from partner countries, comparing how sustainability is integrated into education across Europe.It highlights common challenges, successful strategies, and recommendations for making environmental education more effective.👉 The full report will be available on our project website and will serve as a key reference for the UPSPACE curriculum.

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Advancing Inclusion: National Research Phase Completed

We are thrilled to share a major achievement within the European Participa City partnership! After months of dedicated collaboration, our team of partners has made significant progress in uncovering how racism and discrimination surface across different countries at the national level. More importantly, we have gained a clearer understanding of the obstacles that prevent fuller participation and inclusion of ethnic and cultural minorities in society. In-depth Exploration Over the past several months, all partner organizations have engaged in extensive research…

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SMERALD Datathon in Palermo – Exploring Data and AI Through Real Challenges

SMERALD Datathon in Palermo – Exploring Data and AI Through Real Challenges On 13–14 June 2025, the SMERALD partnership hosted its first Datathon in Palermo – a hands-on event designed to help SMEs, nonprofits, public authorities, and educators experience the practical use of digital data, data analysis, and AI. The Datathon followed a hybrid format: participants joined both on-site in Palermo and online from across Europe. After two days of intense work, all teams presented their results during an online…

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New Network Launches in Lower Saxony to Strengthen Anti-Discrimination Education in Schools

A newly established network in the German state of Lower Saxony aims to enhance and increase the visibility of anti-discrimination educational efforts within local schools. The “Netzwerk Diskriminierungskritische Schule Niedersachsen (NDS²) / Network of Schools Critical of Discrimination in Lower Saxony” is committed to transforming schools into environments that promote respectful coexistence. This mission requires a firm position against anti-democratic tendencies and the creation of practical tools to actively address and challenge discrimination. A Dynamic Kickoff: Unified Voices Against Discrimination…

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ARIES Piloting: From ancient stones to expanded stories

From ancient stones to expanded stories take a digital journey through the Roman Forum How can an ancient city be brought back to life in the classroom? For a Latin class in Göttingen, the answer was clear: transform the Roman Forum into a multimedia treasure hunt using augmented reality (AR). As part of the ARIES project, the students turned their textbooks into 3D adventures, combining historical research, creative storytelling, and digital design to create an unforgettable experience. Under the guidance…

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