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Inside OUTPLAY: Follow our project through a new video diary series
What if outdoor play was not an extra, but an important part of how children learn, connect and grow? This is one of the questions at the heart of OUTPLAY – Outdoor Play Labs, an Erasmus+ project bringing together outdoor play, STEM learning and social and emotional learning (SEL) for children aged 3 to 10.…
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Summer at ICDI: a time for learning, connecting and making an impact
The summer may be over, but there is plenty to look back on! During June, July and August, ICDI travelled, kicked off projects, met with partners, ran activities, shared knowledge and contributed to advocacy and policy discussions. We are bringing together some of these moments in one summer recap. From project meetings and training sessions…
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Supporting mental health and resilience in Ukraine: New resources from ICDI
Mental health is essential for recovery, resilience, and peace. As Ukraine continues to face the impacts of war, strengthening community-based mental health and psychosocial support is an important part of supporting young people, families, and communities. Through the Mind the Future programme partnership, ICDI is contributing to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction by strengthening the resilience…
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DigiGuard: Putting Children at the Centre of Digital Safety
Children are growing up in a digital world that is changing faster than ever. From social media and online games to artificial intelligence, the opportunities are enormous, but so are the risks. So how can we make sure children are not only protected online, but also have a say in shaping the digital world they…
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Breaking the silence: E-mpowerYouth pilot strengthens young people’s ability to recognise harm and seek help
On World Suicide Prevention Day, E-mpowerYouth shares encouraging results from its pilot in the Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine, showing how practical prevention programmes can strengthen the protective skills and relationships young people need when facing difficult situations. Young people’s lives increasingly move between online and offline spaces. Relationships, friendships and identity are now also shaped…
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Learning Outside, Together: Reflecting on the OUTPLAY Training in Ljubljana
Blog post by: Aljosa Rudas and Hannah Machiels Last week, we facilitated a Training of Trainers (ToT) as part of the Outdoor Play Labs project (OUTPLAY). Hosted by the Educational Research Institute (ERI), the ToT brought together the project partners to learn about and experience the newly developed OUTPLAY Toolkit. At the heart of the…
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Building a Stronger Preschool Workforce: Master Mentor Training of Trainers in Uzbekistan
It is universally recognized that a well-qualified and supported workforce who have opportunities for ongoing professional learning is key to quality preschool education. Between 15 and 19 June 2026 ICDI’s Margaret Kernan along with Mihaela Ionescu from ISSA and Zorica Trikic facilitated a five-day Master Mentor Training of Trainers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The training is…
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Climate Action – Climate Justice, Play and Nature: Preparing Children for a Changing World
The fourth instalment of our Series, ‘How Children’s Lives Are Being Affected By Climate Change’, comes at a particularly relevant moment, as Europe is currently experiencing a severe and widespread heatwave[i]. Climate change is already reshaping the world children are growing up in, affecting their health, well-being, learning, and future opportunities. In this publication of…
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Six Years On: Lasting Impact of Her Choice and New Milestones in Ending Child Marriage
It has been six years since the completion of Her Choice, a collaborative initiative led by four Netherlands-based organisations – including ICDI- working with local grassroot implementers to build child marriage-free societies. Implemented across Pakistan, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh, the programme was guided by a clear long-term vision: girls are free to decide if, when, and whom they marry. In…
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REAL TALK launched in Milan: preventing GBV and strengthening digital resilience among adolescents
The REAL TALK project was officially launched with a two-day in-person kick-off meeting in Milan, hosted by IRC Italy at the Randstad Box. Partners from Italy, Poland, Estonia, and the Netherlands came together to align on the project’s vision, methodology, and next steps, marking the start of a two-year collaboration to prevent gender-based violence (GBV)…
