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Empowerment is central to the NEF project. But for social workers, the important question is not only how empowerment is defined. It is how to recognise it and support it in everyday practice. One way to look at this is through the role a person has within a social service: Is the person mainly receiving support and participating in activities designed by others? Or are there real opportunities to contribute, take responsibility and use their own abilities?

In the wake of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” social work finds itself at a crossroad. We are witnessing a fundamental shift from a simple digitisation (converting paper to bits) to a structural digitalisation that questions the way we create social value. For the modern social worker, digital empowerment is not merely about learning new software; is about utilising technology to amplify human empathy and systemic advocacy.

On 23 January 2026, the NEF – Digital and Empowerment in Social Work Training project held its first Steering Committee meeting online, gathering the presidents and directors of six dedicated organisations from France, Belgium, Romania and Portugal: IRTS Hauts-de-France, Habble, Logopsycom, Aproximar, ASSOC and CNASR.

On 12 December, two European workshops were held as part of Work Package 2 of the Erasmus+ project NEF – Digital and Empowerment in Social Work Training. Despite time and language challenges, participants demonstrated great commitment and enthusiasm. The workshops provided a platform for engaging discussions, presentations, and sharing innovative practices from across Europe.

We are excited to announce that Work Package 2 – Mapping of Innovative Empowerment Practices and Tools in Social Work has been successfully completed across all partner countries!

On 26 September 2025, ASSOC organized the National Workshop for the NEF project, aimed at identifying and evaluating good practices in the field of social inclusion and employment. The event took place in a hybrid format, with 20 participants attending in person and over 40 joining online.

The kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ NEF project (Digital and Empowerment in Social Work Training) took place on 20 and 21 March 2025 at IRTS Hauts-de-France in Loos. This meeting marked the official start of a three-year cooperation involving six partners from France, Belgium, Romania, and Portugal.

Work Package 2 of the Erasmus+ project NEF is up and running! 🎯 The goal? To identify and promote innovative empowerment practices and tools in social work, especially those involving digital solutions.

How can we strengthen the empowerment of vulnerable people in the digital age? That’s the core question of the Erasmus+ project NEF – Digital and Empowerment in Social Work Training (cooperation partnership) launched in November 2024 for a three-year journey.