M-Power
Partnership for Sharing Knowledge to Empower Parents of Children with Disabilities
About the Project
The project “Partnership for Sharing Knowledge to Empower Parents of Children with Disabilities through Mutual Learning” brings together organisations from four European countries with one shared mission: to strengthen, inspire, and empower parents of young children with disabilities through knowledge exchange, peer support, and practical learning tools.
The early years of a child with special needs are crucial — not only for development, but also for parents, who often navigate uncertainty, complex emotions, stigma, and a lack of clear information. This project aims to support parents in this sensitive period by offering resources, shared expertise, and pathways to cooperation between families and professionals.
Project Goal
Our core ambition is to empower parents by:
- increasing their confidence and knowledge,
- strengthening peer-to-peer support networks,
- addressing social stigma and promoting self-advocacy,
- safeguarding parents’ emotional wellbeing, and
- improving their access to information and services.
By developing training resources and sharing good practices across Europe, we want families to feel heard, supported, and equipped to create nurturing, inclusive environments for their children.
Activities
The project is implemented by four partner organisations:
- Karin Dom Foundation (Bulgaria) – Project Lead
- Fondazione Paideia Ente Filantropico (Italy)
- Babes-Bolyai University (Romania)
- SOFT Tulip Foundation (Netherlands)
Key activities include:
1. Knowledge-Sharing Events
International meetings and exchanges that bring professionals and parents together to share experiences and strengthen collaboration.
2. Research on Family Support Systems
A comparative mapping of strengths, gaps, and opportunities in existing support systems for families of young children with disabilities.
3. Collection of Good Practices
Identifying effective approaches to parent empowerment and summarising them in an accessible Handbook of Good Practices.
4. Development of Training Materials
Creating a methodology and a training guide on family empowerment and parent-to-parent support.
5. Pilot Training Course
Testing and refining the training resources with parents and professionals from the partner countries.
6. Practical Guidelines
Developing easy-to-use tools for sustaining family empowerment and peer support networks.
Expected Results
By the end of the project, we expect to achieve:
- increased awareness of family empowerment and how it can be achieved in practice;
- improved shared understanding among professionals and parents of good practices that support empowerment;
- a set of high-quality training materials and resources for parents and professionals;
- practical guidelines for parent-to-parent support and sustainable family networks;
- strengthened cross-country cooperation and long-term partnerships.
This collaboration builds on a shared belief in the power of knowledge, mutual learning, and community support. The results will be integrated into the long-term work of all partner organisations and can be used to develop future initiatives beyond the Erasmus+ Programme.
Project Duration
1 November 2025 – 30 April 2028
Funding
This project is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, Cooperation Partnerships.
This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.