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 to events, field visits and advocacy activities, here are some of the highlights from a busy few months at ICDI.
DigiGuard project kick-off!
In June, we travelled to Athens to kick off a new project, DigiGuard. Representatives from all six partner organisations gathered to get to know each other, agree on key project action points, and, most importantly, discuss how to meaningfully involve children from the start. Young people aged 9 to 17 from across the partner countries will help shape the tools and materials we develop, giving feedback on what matters to them and what they experience online.
E-CAMPS project kick-off!
From Athens, Greece, we travelled to Valencia, Spain, for the kick-off of E-CAMPS. The project consortium came together to explore how the project can address children’s early exposure to sexually explicit content online and promote healthier digital habits. The meeting laid the foundation for the project’s approach, which combines children’s experiences, support for trusted adults, and innovative educational materials to strengthen children’s digital resilience.
Exploitation Free Zones (EFZ) in Nepal kick-off
Also in June, we joined Free a Girl in the online kick-off of the Exploitation Free Zones programme in Nepal, which aims to strengthen systems that protect children from sexual exploitation. ICDI provides strategic and technical support during the inception phase, including stakeholder and systems analysis, baseline preparation, pilot-site selection and the development of the EFZ conceptual framework and Theory of Change.
Master Mentor Training of Trainers in Uzbekistan
In mid-June, we travelled to Uzbekistan to facilitate a Master Mentor Training of Trainers, supporting participants to strengthen their skills and prepare them to train and mentor preschool professionals. Read more about the training here.
Mind the Future Training Sessions
As part of the Mind the Future programme, we developed two practical toolkits to strengthen community-based mental health and psychosocial support for young people and communities affected by the ongoing war: the Community-Based Psychological First Aid Toolkit and Stress, Trauma, and Mental Well-being in Times of Crisis. During the summer, we delivered two training sessions for facilitators to build their knowledge and skills in using these resources to support young people and communities. Both toolkits are available in English and Ukrainian here.
Integration of Services Training for OdPerinky
At the end of June, ICDI delivered a half-day training on integrating early childhood care services for members of the OdPerinky platform. The session explored the challenges families face when health, education and social services work in isolation, as well as approaches that put the needs of children and families at the centre. The training also provided an opportunity to share practical models for strengthening coordination across sectors, with participants planning to bring this knowledge back to the wider OdPerinky platform and their advocacy work.
Outdoor Play Labs – Training of Trainers in Slovenia
We started July in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where we facilitated a Training of Trainers as part of the Outdoor Play Labs project (OUTPLAY). The training gave participants the opportunity to learn about and experience the newly developed OUTPLAY Toolkit. Read more about the Training of Trainers here.
Hubs4Teens – International Training Session
While in Slovenia, we facilitated a three-day international Training of Trainers session for partners from several European countries. Together, we developed and tested materials for national training courses that will take place in selected schools over the coming months.
Foundations for the Future – Needs Assessment Workshop
As part of the Foundations for the Future project, we held a needs assessment workshop with Nascent staff to reflect on progress in supporting children with disabilities and explore the referral system in place. The workshop also helped identify Nascent’s current capacity-building needs and the most relevant support for the next stage of the project.
Old friends visited ICDI!
Farid Abu Gosh
We were happy to welcome Farid Abu Gosh, a long-time friend of ICDI and its co-founder, Nico van Oudenhoven. Farid is the director of TRUST in Palestine, and together we discussed the progress of N.I.C.O Spaces, a project celebrating Nico’s legacy by bringing older adults and children together in welcoming community spaces. We also explored funding opportunities to continue the project beyond September 2026.
We were also delighted to welcome back a former partner from the Girl Power and Her Choice programmes, almost 15 years after we first worked together. The visit was a chance to reconnect, look back on our shared work and reflect on how our commitment to child rights, gender equality and community-based approaches continues to shape our work today. We also discussed current challenges and opportunities for creating meaningful change in communities.
During the visit, we were inspired to hear about the journey of one Her Choice project beneficiary, who joined the project as a Grade 5 student and is now studying in college. Over the years, Irum has witnessed her remarkable growth and confidence. She has represented girls’ voices on several occasions, speaking to the Minister of Education and other policymakers about issues affecting girls’ education. Today, she wants to give back by volunteering with the organisation, supporting other girls and contributing to positive change in her community. Watch the inspiring video of her journey here:
Lobby and Advocacy
In July, ICDI’s Aljoša joined the national conference “How Can We Support the Development of Role Models in Early Childhood?” in Sofia, Bulgaria, as a keynote speaker and member of the Board of Directors of the Trust for Social Achievement (TSA). The conference brought together policymakers, educators, researchers and civil society organisations to explore how to support more Roma professionals in becoming early childhood teachers. Drawing on his own journey from attending a kindergarten in a Roma community in Slovenia to returning there as a teacher, Aljoša highlighted the importance of representation and the collective effort needed to create opportunities for children from marginalised communities. The event also provided an opportunity to discuss the impact of TSA’s Teacher in My Community initiative and the policies and investments needed to sustain and expand its success. Read Aljoša’s keynote speech, “They Do Not Only See a Teacher. They See Possibility,” here.
From starting new projects and international training sessions to strengthening partnerships, contributing to advocacy efforts and developing practical resources, the past few months have been full of learning, collaboration and meaningful connections. As we move into autumn, we look forward to continuing to work with trusted partners and friends to create opportunities for children and young people to grow up in loving, safe and supportive environments, with every opportunity to develop healthily, surrounded by people who care.
We are grateful to our donors and supporters for their continued trust and commitment to our work
DigiGuard: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
E-Camps: Funded by the European Union under the CERV-DAPHNE Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101254493). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Exploitation Free Zones: Commissioned by Free a Girl Netherlands
Master Mentor Training of Trainers in Uzbekistan: ISSA signed a partnership with UNICEF Uzbekistan to provide technical assistance in the development and introduction of a mentoring system in the preschool system in Uzbekistan. The technical assistance is coordinated by ISSA and provided in partnership with ICDI.
Mind the Future: The Ukraine Partnership Facility (UPF) funds this project. UPF is a programme from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UPF supports damage repair and reconstruction projects for the public and private sectors. UPF aims to help the recovery and sustainable reconstruction activities of the Ukrainian economy and society in the water, healthcare, circular reconstruction, sustainable energy and agricultural sectors.
OUTPLAY: Eramus + Cooperation partnerships in school education (KA220-SCH). Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Hubs4Teens: UniCredit Foundation
Foundations for the Future: Stichting Dioraphte, Weeshuis der Doopsgezinden in Haarlem and other donors
