Kick-off meeting in Rotterdam

The EmpowerED project officially launched on 18–19 November 2025 in Rotterdam, with the kick-off meeting hosted by the City of Rotterdam and Albeda College. As project coordinator, the City of Rotterdam welcomed partners from across Europe to begin a collaborative journey aimed at strengthening adult education and tackling poverty through improved numeracy and financial literacy.

The event brought together representatives from nine partner organisations, including universities, local governments, research institutes and adult learning providers from Belgium, Romania and the Netherlands. Participants included Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ligo Waas & Dender, the Municipality of Sint-Niklaas, Babeș-Bolyai University, Brașov Metropolitan Agency, Colegiul Național Economic „Andrei Bârseanu”, and Hogeschool Utrecht.

During the two-day meeting, partners discussed the project's main objectives:

• Co-creating an innovative e-learning platform for adult education professionals, focusing on the relationship between numeracy, financial literacy and poverty;

• Developing a database of good practices from the three pilot regions;

• Raising awareness and promoting sustainable improvements in adult learning through dedicated communication and outreach activities

Participants also had the opportunity to learn from inspiring local initiatives in Rotterdam. A particularly valuable session was delivered by Reint van der Vlis from Stichting Lezen en Schrijven, who presented the foundation's work in preventing and tackling low literacy. The session reinforced the message that society becomes stronger when everyone is able to participate fully.

The kick-off meeting laid a strong foundation for future collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation. Partners left Rotterdam with a shared vision and commitment to developing practical solutions that will enhance adult education and support more inclusive communities across Europe.