Starting in September 2025, we will work with partners in Greece, Cyprus, and Norway to strengthen and build more inclusive classrooms for young people who have been displaced, fled conflict, and are trying to rebuild their lives through education.
Why this project matters
Every day we meet young people and teachers facing enormous challenges. Teachers do their best, but often lack the tools, time, and support they need. Refugee and displaced youth face additional barriers—language, trauma, interrupted schooling, and isolation.
EmpowerED is our response. Together with Terre des Hommes Hellas, Hope for Children CRC Policy Center, the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, and our academic partner, the University of Bergen, we are developing a flexible, evidence-based toolkit for teachers. This is more than training—it is an investment in the people who keep classrooms together.
What we are building
Our work will be based on Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Active Democratic Citizenship (ADC)—approaches that center teacher and student voices, encourage collaboration, and promote meaningful participation. The goal is to create learning environments where all students feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Beyond refugee students
While refugee and displaced youth remain at the heart of EmpowerED, the tools and training we develop are also relevant for host communities and schools. The project is about inclusion and empathy across entire classrooms, giving teachers the capacity to lead diverse, resilient, and democratic learning spaces.
What’s next
Over the next 24 months, we will roll out workshops, school-based training, and collaborative activities in Norway, Greece, and Cyprus. We will share experiences, test ideas, and keep returning to the belief that education can be a force for dignity and belonging.
EmpowerED is a big step forward for us, and we are honored to walk this journey with such dedicated partners. We look forward to sharing updates and stories along the way.
EmpowerED is beginning—and we are ready.
