Erasmus+ KA210-ADU • 2025–2027

Empowering
Adults
with Disabilities

A pan-European partnership turning waste into flowers — empowering adults with disabilities through creative recycling, art therapy, and social inclusion.

Explore Our Mission Meet Our Partners
4
Partner Countries
20mo
Project Duration
€60K
EU Funding
120+
Participants Reached
Who We Are

A European Alliance for
Disability Inclusion

EmpowerEU is an Erasmus+ small-scale partnership bringing together four organisations across Austria, Turkey, Poland, and Romania. Together, we address one of our era's most pressing gaps: the exclusion of adults with disabilities from environmental sustainability and lifelong learning.

We believe lasting change starts with creativity. By teaching adults with disabilities to transform waste materials into handmade flowers, we create ripples of environmental awareness, cognitive development, and social participation across Europe.

Environmental Sustainability
Turning waste materials into meaningful, handmade art
Social Inclusion
Empowering adults with disabilities and their families
Art Therapy
Strengthening emotional expression and mental well-being
Adult Education
Training educators in inclusive, art-based teaching methods
"Every piece of waste has the potential to become a flower — and a step toward inclusion."

— EmpowerEU Partnership, 2025

Oct 2025
Project Launch
May 2027
Project Close
Active in: 🇦🇹 🇹🇷 🇵🇱 🇷🇴
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Co-funded by
Erasmus+
Erasmus+ International Consortium

Our Partner Organisations

Four organisations. Four countries. One shared commitment to disability inclusion and sustainability.

AT Austria
Dornbirn
47.4°N 9.7°E
Lead Coordinator
Non-governmental organisation/association
KICK
18+ yrs exp.
Project Coordinator · AT

KICK — Kommunikation Integration Coaching Kulturmanagement

KICK is a non-profit organisation in Austria's Vorarlberg region dedicated to social inclusion, education, and cultural integration. It supports migrants, disadvantaged individuals, and people with disabilities through training, coaching, and cultural programmes, and has experience in art-based education and upcycling initiatives.

Key Strengths
Social Inclusion Coaching EU Project Management Art-Based Education Accessible Digital Content
Role in Project

Project coordination, budget oversight, cognitive-development materials, awareness campaigns, final report.

Website
TR Türkiye
Adana
37.0°N 35.3°E
Partner Organisation
Non-governmental organisation/association
ARTİKA
12+ yrs exp.
Partner · TR

ARTİKA Yaratıcı Sanatlar Derneği (Artika Creative Arts Association)

Based in Adana, Türkiye, ARTİKA is dedicated to education, culture, arts, and social inclusion. It has extensive experience in environmental awareness, upcycling, and artistic expression, aligning with the project's goal of empowering adults with disabilities through recycling and creativity.

Key Strengths
Art Therapy Creative Rehabilitation Social Inclusion Dissemination
Role in Project

Art therapy techniques, emotional & social well-being workshops, dissemination lead, website creation.

PL Poland
Dąbrowa Białostocka
53.7°N 23.3°E
Partner Organisation
Non-governmental organisation/association
GAMA
17+ yrs exp.
Partner · PL

Fundacja GAMA

Fundacja GAMA, based in Poland's Podlaskie region, supports impaired adults, the elderly, young people and socially disadvantaged individuals through vocational training, art and music therapy, and social development programmes.

Key Strengths
Vocational Rehabilitation Art & Music Therapy Lifelong Learning Programmes Digital Platforms
Role in Project

Educational materials on recycling & climate, sustainable artistic practices, host Poland workshop, surveys, YouTube channel.

Website
RO Romania
Buzau
45.1°N 26.8°E
Partner Organisation
Non-governmental organisation/association
AZIE
8+ yrs exp.
Partner · RO

Asociația Zona Integrare Europeana

A non-profit organisation in Romania focusing on education, social inclusion, and sustainability. It develops e-learning platforms and art therapy programmes for adults with disabilities, and holds Erasmus+ Accreditation (KA120-ADU) for 2023–2027.

Key Strengths
Digital Learning Platforms Accessible Content Erasmus+ Accreditation EPALE Publishing
Role in Project

Digital learning content, host Romania workshops, intellectual output lead, risk-prevention plan, Instagram & EPALE.

How We Found Each Other

Our partnership was formed through the EPALE Platform and a commission-based selection process, based on expertise in disability inclusion, adult education, and environmental sustainability. Each partner brings irreplaceable strengths — together, we are stronger than the sum of our parts.

4 Countries
6 Active Routes
120+ Participants
2025–27 Erasmus+
Erasmus+ Partner Network

European Connections

Four organisations across four countries — click any node to explore the partnership.

Click a glowing node to view partner details  ·  Routes animate in real-time

Purpose & Direction

Mission & Vision

Two guiding principles shape everything we do — a clear mission for today and an ambitious vision for tomorrow.

Our Mission

Empower Adults with Disabilities Through Creative Recycling

We equip adults with disabilities across Europe with the skills and confidence to transform waste materials into handmade flowers. In doing so, we combat climate change, strengthen cognitive and motor development, and build a more inclusive society.

Our Vision

A Europe Where Every Adult Shapes a Sustainable Future

We envision a Europe where adults with disabilities are active participants in environmental sustainability, where art-based recycling is a recognised tool for cognitive development, and where inclusive education is the standard, not the exception.

Concrete Project Objectives

01

Educational Resources on Sustainability

Create educational materials on climate change and recycling specifically designed for adults with disabilities, delivered through interactive workshops.

02

Active Environmental Participation

Enable impaired adults to collect, sort and transform waste materials into artistic flower designs, gaining hands-on environmental skills.

03

Mental & Cognitive Development

Apply art therapy techniques such as flower-making to encourage mental stimulation, emotional expression, and motor skill development.

04

Digital Guide for Accessibility

Produce a 120+ page digital guide with easy-to-read language, audio description and sign language support, freely available across Europe.

05

Awareness & Multiplier Events

Organise national dissemination events across all four partner countries, reaching 120+ educators and adult learners.

06

Trainer & Educator Capacity Building

Equip trainers and guidance personnel with inclusive, art-based teaching strategies for working with adults with disabilities.

Project Journey

20 Months, 4 Countries,
One Shared Mission

October 2025

Project Launch

Austria — Lead Organisation

KICK formally launches the EmpowerEU project. Partners establish communication channels, appoint quality monitoring, dissemination and survey officers. Website and social media go live.

December 2025

Kick-Off Meeting

Online — hosted by Austria

All four partner organisations meet online to align on goals, distribute tasks, assign responsibilities, and forge the collaboration frameworks that will guide the project to completion.

Feb 2026

Grouping & Design for Recycling Waste

Buzau, Romania — AZIE hosts

Impaired adults and educators from all partner countries gather in Buzau for six days covering greenhouse gases, waste classification, and safety, then begin designing flowers from waste.

June 2026

Making Flowers From Waste

Dąbrowa Białostocka, Poland — GAMA hosts

Six days of hands-on flower-making in Poland. Adults with disabilities and trainers cut, glue and shape at least ten flower designs, with an exhibition for families.

Jun – Oct 2026

Intellectual Output & Multiplier Events

All four partner countries

AZIE leads the creation of a 120+ page multilingual digital guide. Each partner simultaneously hosts a national multiplier event, inviting 120 local educators to discover the project's findings.

Feb 2027

Conclusion & Evaluation Meeting

Dornbirn, Austria — KICK hosts

Partners reconvene to measure impact, evaluate outcomes against quality indicators, decide on sustainability pathways, and co-author the final project report for submission to the Erasmus+ Results Platform.

May 2027

Project Close

Europe-wide impact

The EmpowerEU digital guide remains freely available. The project website, social channels, and EPALE platform entries continue to serve educators and adults with disabilities across Europe, ensuring lasting impact beyond the funded period.

What Drives Us

Our Core Values

Six principles anchor every decision, workshop, and partnership across the EmpowerEU project.

Environmental Sustainability

Every activity we undertake prioritises reducing waste, encouraging recycling, and promoting creative reuse that heals the planet rather than harms it.

Radical Inclusion

We design for adults with disabilities first: mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, physical impairments, and those who need mental support. If it does not reach the margins, it has not reached far enough.

Transnational Cooperation

Disability inclusion knows no borders. Our cross-border partnership between Austria, Turkey, Poland and Romania reflects our conviction that lasting solutions require different nations, cultures, and perspectives working as one.

Art-Based Learning

We believe art therapy and creative expression are powerful tools for cognitive and motor development, helping adults with disabilities build confidence through hands-on creation.

Lifelong Learning

We believe learning does not end with school. Adults at any age can acquire new skills, reshape their habits, and become active participants in society.

Digital Accessibility

Our digital guide includes easy-to-read language, audio description and sign language support — ensuring our resources reach every learner, regardless of ability.

Scope & Scale

The Numbers Behind
Our EmpowerEU Mission

Behind every statistic is an adult with disabilities whose confidence grew, a flower shaped from waste, or an educator equipped with new inclusive teaching tools. These numbers represent lives touched by a shared European commitment to inclusion and sustainability.

  • A 120+ page multilingual digital guide freely available across Europe
  • At least 120 educators reached through national multiplier events
  • Adults with disabilities in 4 countries equipped with creative recycling skills
  • At least 10 unique flower designs created from recycled waste materials
  • Project results published on Erasmus+ Results Platform and EPALE
€60,000
EU Grant Awarded
Erasmus+ lump sum funding
4
Partner Countries
Austria · Turkey · Poland · Romania
20
Months Duration
October 2025 – May 2027
5
Project Activities
Workshops, meetings & outputs
120+
Educators Reached
Via multiplier events across 4 countries
120+
Page Digital Guide
Free & multilingual intellectual output

Budget at a Glance

How the €60,000 EU grant is allocated across project activities.

Making Flowers From Waste (Poland) €16,235
Grouping & Design for Recycling Waste (Romania) €15,805
Intellectual Output & Multiplier Events (Romania) €10,895
Management & Dissemination (Austria) €10,286
Conclusion & Evaluation (Austria) €6,779
Programs & Activities

What We Do & How

Five carefully designed activities unfold across four countries, turning waste into creativity and inclusion.

01
Austria — Remote coordination Oct 2025 – Apr 2027 · €10,286

Management & Dissemination

Lead: KICK (Austria)

The backbone of the entire project. Covers advertising and promotional materials, website development, introductory meetings with local institutions, and risk-prevention costs. KICK coordinates monthly online partner meetings and quality-monitoring reports throughout the 20-month period.

Coordination Quality Monitoring Website Dissemination
02
Buzau, Romania — AZIE hosts 18–23 Feb 2026 · €15,805

Grouping & Design for Recycling Waste

Lead: Asociația Zona Integrare Europeana (Romania)

20+ impaired adults and 20 educators from all four partners gather in Buzau for six days covering the effects of greenhouse gases, waste classification, and safety. Participants collect environmentally safe waste materials and begin designing flowers from waste, supported by pre- and post-event surveys.

Waste Classification Design Environmental Safety Workshops
03
Dąbrowa Białostocka, Poland — GAMA hosts 22–27 Jun 2026 · €16,235

Making Flowers From Waste

Lead: Fundacja GAMA (Poland)

30 adults with disabilities and 20 trainers form working groups to cut, glue and shape at least ten flower designs from waste materials, developing fine motor and cognitive skills. Finished flowers are exhibited to 40+ family members, and the process is documented for the project's intellectual output.

Flower-Making Fine Motor Skills Family Exhibition Art Therapy
04
Buzau, Romania — AZIE leads 30 Jun – 08 Oct 2026 · €10,895

Intellectual Output & Multiplier Events

Lead: AZIE (Romania) — leads production; all partners hold multiplier events

Led by AZIE, partners produce a 120+ page digital guide — in Turkish, Polish, Romanian, German and English — covering waste classification, flower-making techniques, and the cognitive benefits of creative recycling. Each partner then hosts a national multiplier event inviting 120 educators, disseminated via EPALE and social media.

Digital Guide Multilingual Multiplier Events EPALE
05
Dornbirn, Austria — KICK hosts 09–10 Feb 2027 · €6,779

Conclusion & Evaluation

Lead: KICK (Austria)

Partners reunite in Dornbirn for the project's closing meeting. Quality-monitoring reports are reviewed, satisfaction survey results are analysed, and 12 project managers evaluate whether all objectives were achieved. Decisions on sustainability and knowledge transfer are formalised for the final Erasmus+ report.

Impact Assessment Sustainability Final Reporting Evaluation
Who We Serve

Inclusion is Not an Afterthought —
It is Our Starting Point

EmpowerEU was designed from day one to reach adults with disabilities — and to prove that sustainability and creativity are for everyone.

Impaired Adults

"This project showed me what I can create, not what I cannot do."

Adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities are the leading target group. Specially designed workshops develop motor skills, increase environmental awareness, and use art therapy to strengthen emotional expression and social participation.

Trainers & Guidance Personnel

"I returned from Romania with new methods I could not wait to share."

Trainers and guidance staff who work with impaired adults develop art- and recycling-based educational techniques, adopt inclusive teaching methods, and prepare accessible educational materials.

Adult Education Institutions

"EmpowerEU gave our institution new tools to reach learners we'd never reached before."

Institutions across Europe are informed about the project through EPALE, the project website and social media — gaining access to new educational materials and sustainable, inclusive learning methods.

Families & Caregivers

"Watching my son shape a flower from waste, I saw his confidence bloom too."

Families and caregivers of impaired adults gain knowledge and skills to support independent living, implement sustainable recycling activities at home, and organise artistic events.

Civil Society Organisations

"EmpowerEU showed us there is real demand for inclusive climate education in our community."

Civil society organisations working on environmental sustainability and recycling contribute to the environmental awareness of impaired adults through recycling-focused art activities.

Local Governments

"Partnering on this project helped us bring sustainability and inclusion to our town."

Local governments collaborate on awareness-raising activities around waste management, sustainable material use, and environmentally friendly art practices for impaired adults.

"When an adult with disabilities turns waste into a flower, she is not just creating art. She is reclaiming her place in a more sustainable Europe."

— EmpowerEU Partnership Vision Statement

Get in Touch

Interested in our project, want to collaborate, or have questions about disability inclusion and creative recycling? We would love to hear from you.

Send a Message

Download the Digital Guide

Our free multilingual guide to recycling and flower-making will be available once published in 2026. Sign up for updates.

Get Notified

Join the Community

Follow our journey on social media, see our workshops in action, and become part of Europe's growing inclusion movement.

Follow Us

Follow the Project

Stay up to date with our activities, workshop highlights, and the digital book launch.

Instagram
@wasteflowers_project
Facebook
EmpowerEU
EPALE
EPALE Platform
Erasmus+
Results Platform

Inclusion is a work of art.
And it starts with a flower.

Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union • KA210-ADU • 2025 Round 1