The goal of the DECONSTRUCT project was to raise public awareness and promote critical thinking about Holocaust distortion. The project conducted comprehensive research on the manifestations of Holocaust distortion and its presence in education in Greece, Hungary, Italy, and Portugal. Based on the research findings, we developed innovative educational materials and online campaigns to raise social awareness and foster critical thinking, with particular attention to Holocaust distortion.

During the Budapest meeting, partners reviewed the achieved results, including key outputs of each work package, and evaluated project management, implemented activities, and their impact. Interactive World Café sessions, led by Zachor and HÉTFA, provided a space for participants to discuss project content, results, as well as key challenges and experiences.

HÉTFA Research Institute participates in the project as a partner and actively contributes to content development, project evaluation, and the preparation of the final report and sustainability plan. On the second day of the meeting, HÉTFA provided guidance to partners on preparing the final report and, together with Zachor Foundation, led the development of the sustainability plan and the final coordination discussions.

The project is funded by the European Union under the CERV programme. We would like to thank all partners for their dedicated work and cooperation, which made the successful implementation of the project possible.

The aim of the event is to create a space for dialogue among experts, policymakers, and practitioners, and to foster joint reflection on the sector’s future.

The programme will begin with a keynote presentation by an expert from the European Social Network (ESN), who will share insights on current workforce trends in social services. The presentation will also introduce ESN’s new initiative on a quality framework for social services, which promotes co-production approaches involving both service users and workers. This will be followed by a presentation from the project’s lead partner, Center for Not-for-profit Law (CLNR), introducing the key findings of the project’s benchmark transnational report and setting the framework for the project’s objectives.

The interactive part of the event will consist of moderated breakout sessions in which participants will work in smaller groups. These discussions will allow participants to share national experiences, identify key challenges, and formulate policy recommendations.

The session will conclude with a plenary wrap-up, where the project’s moderators will summarise the main insights from the group discussions. These outcomes will contribute to the further development of the project’s activities.

The Online Policy Lab is particularly relevant for professionals working in the care sector, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future development of care services.

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Llb1SYWrSeGkw2RUFYaaEA

The pilot training is meant not only to build participants’ skills, but also to test and refine the project’s tools in real-life settings before wider rollout. The methodology is based on a blended, learner-centred approach that combines online learning with face-to-face workshops, practical assignments, and individual mentoring. A key element is microlearning: short, focused modules that allow busy caregivers to learn in a flexible and accessible format. These are complemented by scenario-based exercises and case studies that reflect real challenges from everyday care work.

The training pathway includes 15 microlearning modules, with 8 compulsory modules for the pilot phase. The curriculum covers digital skills, soft skills, social entrepreneurship, green and sustainable practices, and a strong well-being component. In fact, the largest thematic area is burnout and well-being, with modules dedicated to stress management, anger management, trauma, fear, self-esteem, work-life balance, and psychological first aid.

Another important feature of the methodology is the integration of personalised mentoring and self-learning resources, including handbooks, info cards, and practice-based materials hosted on the CARES platform. This structure helps participants move from learning to application and reflection, while also supporting long-term professional development and resilience in the care sector.

By combining flexibility, practical relevance, and individual support, the CARES pilot methodology offers a strong foundation for building a more skilled, resilient, and better-supported care workforce. It is also designed with transferability and long-term impact in mind, so that the model can be adapted and used beyond the initial pilot phase.

In May, we are focusing on the organisation of the pilot trainings within the CARES project. We invite care professionals, partner organisations, and stakeholders to follow the next steps of the project and stay connected for updates on the training activities, learning opportunities, and pilot implementation.

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 European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them

The main aim of the report is to synthesise information regarding the situation of ESIRA pilot areas, and the communities established there. The analysis reflects the situation of people living in pilot areas in the selected countries and regions, highlighting the social and economic similarities and differences in the challenges they face, stocktaking the drivers of vulnerability and social exclusion in representative rural contexts.

The full report is available in English on this link.

The SIMPLE project aims to support the employability and social integration of Ukrainian refugees, with a special focus on women and older people, through social innovation solutions. The meeting in Warsaw focused on how the professional results developed during the earlier analytical and planning phases of the project can be translated into concrete interventions adapted to local contexts. By linking pilot actions, stakeholder cooperation and evidence-based planning, the project seeks to develop a model that can be transferred to other settings and support refugee integration in the longer term.

HÉTFA participates in the project as a partner and played a leading role in Work Package 2, which laid the professional foundations of the new approach. As part of this work, we contributed to the development of the methodology, the problem and context analysis, the identification of promising social innovations, and the elaboration of the related Theory of Change. Building on the results of WP2, we also reviewed with our partners the next steps related to stakeholder engagement and capacity building during the Warsaw meeting.

The SIMPLE project is co-funded by the European Union under the ESF+ programme.

The meeting brought together participants from research, business development, policy, community-building and hands-on support backgrounds. The conversation showed that a great deal of valuable knowledge, experience and initiative is already present in the field — what is often missing is the space to connect these efforts and turn them into real collaboration.

The meeting focused on linking research with practice, shaping policy-relevant lessons, and creating opportunities for peer learning. For us, this was an important first step towards creating a more connected professional space and fostering stronger, more lasting professional collaborations among those working to support women entrepreneurs.

We invite anyone interested in joining the IMPACTA stakeholder group to register via the form below:  https://forms.gle/CNSWbnbEBH3FQ93x8 

How can this mindset be translated into everyday urban practice in Central Europe? This is the question at the heart of the PATH-CE (Pedestrian Access and Tactical Hubs for Central Europe) project, which officially kicked off on 23–24 March 2026 in Budapest, hosted by HÉTFA Research Institute with the participation of experts from four countries.

Why is this needed?

As Gábor Balás, Managing Director of HÉTFA Research Institute, highlighted during the opening:

“A city is successful when people choose to walk.”

Over the past decades, cities across Central Europe have increasingly been shaped by car use. While this has improved mobility in many cases, it has also led to growing challenges: congestion, air pollution, safety risks, and the gradual loss of public space.

This issue is particularly critical in smaller cities, where walking is often not a viable option even for short distances due to fragmented and poorly connected pedestrian networks.

2 days shaping the direction of the project

The two-day kick-off meeting marked not only the launch of the project, but also the beginning of a shared reflection among partners — including Szarvas Város Önkormányzata (Szarvas City Municipality), Grad Metković (City of Metković), Město Žďár nad Sázavou (Municipality of Žďár nad Sázavou), and Rzeszowska Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego Spółka Akcyjna (Rzeszów Regional Development Agency) –  on how to bring walking and active mobility back to the centre of urban life.

On the first day, partners met in person and worked in a World Café format on tactical urbanism tools – focusing on pedestrian experience, greening, and small-scale interventions.

The second day focused on strategic planning: participants jointly shaped the directions of active mobility, explored the Urban Living Lab methodology, and defined the first milestones, complemented by a professional study walk through relevant sites in Budapest.

What does the PATH-CE project do?

Running from February 2026 to January 2028 and co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Central Europe programme, the project aims to reduce car dependency and make walking and active mobility more attractive in cities across the region.

The project will test small-scale, tactical, pedestrian-friendly interventions across several pilot locations, including Szarvas, Metković, Žďár nad Sázavou, and the suburban area of Rzeszów.

The pilot actions focus on three main areas:

• improving the walking experience and wayfinding
• introducing green and climate-adaptive public space solutions
• implementing small-scale infrastructure improvements to make urban spaces safer and more accessible

As the lead partner, HÉTFA Research Institute is responsible not only for coordinating the consortium but also for guiding the project’s professional direction. Through its research, analytical, and policy work, HÉTFA ensures that project results are translated into practical, adaptable solutions for cities across the region.

Built for practical, real-life use, the platform offers a 30-hour learning pathway made up of 15 short microlearning modules.

The content is flexible, accessible, and easy to apply in everyday work. It includes:

• wellbeing and burnout prevention
• digital skills and responsible use of AI tools
• soft skills such as emotional intelligence, inclusion, and self-advocacy
• green and social entrepreneurship-related skills for more sustainable care practice.

The platform is part of the wider CARES pilot training methodology, which combines online learning, real-life case scenarios, mentoring, and practical resources to support a more resilient care workforce.

You can discover the platform’s modules by clicking on this link, and you can gain access to the platform through registering on this link.

On 15 April 2026, the Zachor Foundation for Social Remembrance, together with HÉTFA Research Institute and their international consortium partners, will host the DECONSTRUCT International Stakeholder Event in Budapest. The event will take place at Európa Pont (Lövőház u. 35., Budapest, 1024, Hungary) between 9:00 and 14:00, with the main programme running from 9:00 to 13:00, followed by networking. The event will be held in English with simultaneous translation. 

Funded by the European Union’s CERV-2023-EQUAL programme (Project No. 101144756), the DECONSTRUCT project addresses the growing challenge of Holocaust distortion—an increasingly widespread phenomenon across digital and public spaces. The consortium developed research findings, digital educational tools, and awareness materials to support educators, students, and decision-makers in recognising and countering disinformation and distortion. HÉTFA participates in the project as a partner, contributing to research, educational content development, and dissemination activities.

The half-day event will present the project’s key results and foster dialogue among experts and practitioners. The programme features a keynote by Dr. Kathrin Meyer, former General Secretary of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), two panel discussions on international good practices and classroom experiences, as well as a session showcasing the project’s educational resources. The event will conclude with networking opportunities.

The detailed agenda is available in the attachment. If the event has sparked your interest, you can register here. For further information, please contact: zachor@zachor.hu, visit the project website or follow our updates on Facebook and Instagram.

This is the first representative public survey to examine the social perception of folk culture and folk art, as well as related consumption habits in Hungary; the 2026 Report presents the results of this survey in its first chapter. As a continuation of the 2025 Report, the 2026 Report includes an assessment of the impact of the Sándor Csoóri Program, this time focusing on Hungarian folk art communities beyond the border in Upper Hungary, Transylvania, Subcarpathia, and Vojvodina. The volume focuses first on the examination of folk crafts among the various fields of folk art. It examines the folk craft community and the operational and funding structures of its organizations. It places special emphasis on the issue of knowledge transfer in folk crafts, which simultaneously affects education, professional prestige, market success, and career planning.

More information on the 2026 Hungarian Folk Art Report and the full publication can be accessed here.