SOFT Tulip at the First M-POWER International Meeting in Romania

On 27–28 April 2026, the SOFT Tulip team participated in the first in-person multiplier event and partner meeting of the M-POWER project, funded by the Erasmus+ programme. The event took place in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and was hosted by the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB).

Bringing together more than 40 participants from Bulgaria, Romania, the Netherlands, and Italy, the meeting marked an important milestone in the project’s mission to strengthen support systems for families of young children with disabilities.

For the SOFT Tulip team, the event was an opportunity to exchange knowledge, learn from international partners, and contribute to the ongoing discussion about how early intervention services can better support both children and their families.

A message that resonated strongly throughout the meeting was the importance of supporting the whole family. As Remonda Algra, behavioural specialist at Pameijer and a member of the Dutch delegation, noted:

“Support should reach families faster and closer to home. Care is never a choice between the child or the parents, but a coordinated effort to support the whole family as one.”

The first day focused on sharing expertise and presenting the project’s progress. Prof. Andrea Hatazi introduced the M-POWER mission and highlighted the development of educational resources that will help parents gain confidence in supporting their children’s development and celebrating every achievement along the way.

Particularly valuable for the SOFT Tulip team were the presentations dedicated to early identification and screening. Assoc. Prof. Carolina Bodea-Hategan emphasized the critical role of timely screening and intervention, demonstrating how effective assessment tools can shorten the pathway to appropriate support and therapy.

Another important moment was the presentation of the first survey results by Prof. Carmen Costea-Bărluțiu and the UBB research team. The findings revealed a significant demand among Romanian families for support groups and family-oriented services. At the same time, professionals highlighted legislative and systemic barriers that often limit their ability to provide direct support to parents.

These discussions reinforced one of the key objectives of M-POWER: identifying practical ways to strengthen family resilience and improve access to support services across different national contexts.

The survey results will form the basis of the upcoming Comparative Analysis Report on Support Systems and Family Needs, a key project output that will guide the development of future training materials for parents and professionals.

On the second day, the SOFT Tulip team visited Liceul pentru Deficienţi de Auz Cluj-Napoca, a school dedicated to the education and social inclusion of children with hearing impairments.

The visit offered valuable insights into the school’s individualized approach to learning, its strong focus on family engagement, and its commitment to early intervention. Equally inspiring was the close collaboration between the school and Babeș-Bolyai University, which provides students and future specialists with practical learning opportunities in a real educational environment.

Reflecting on the visit, members of the Dutch delegation highlighted the warm and caring atmosphere they observed:

“It was inspiring to see how warmly and lovingly the children were cared for and how parents were supported in developing their skills.”

The experience also sparked discussions about inclusive education models and the importance of maintaining a strong focus on early intervention across different care systems.

For SOFT Tulip, the meeting in Cluj-Napoca was not only an opportunity to share knowledge but also to learn from innovative practices and strengthen international partnerships. As the M-POWER project continues, many more meetings and exchanges will follow, helping partners identify effective approaches and create resources that empower families of children with developmental challenges.

Together, we are working toward a future where every child receives the support they need and every family feels empowered to navigate their journey with confidence.