S.P.A.R.K.L.E: Rethinking Language Learning for Inclusion, Skills, and Social Integration

Thoughts from the Consortium Kick-Off meeting

On 11–12 February 2026, the S.P.A.R.K.L.E consortium met in Nicosia, Cyprus, to align on its vision, methodology, and implementation plan for supporting low-literate and illiterate migrants and refugees. The project aims to strengthen social inclusion, improve access to the labour market, and promote inclusive education practice to reach across Europe through collaboration, pilot actions, and capacity-building.

S.P.A.R.K.L.E is a European Erasmus+ project aimed at creating accessible language learning opportunities for low-literate and illiterate migrants and refugees and stands for Supporting Professional Access through Reading Knowledge, Language learning and Employment support. By combining innovative teaching methods, digital tools, and inclusive approaches such as Easy-to-Read, the project equips educators to deliver effective and accessible training.

Building on this shared vision, S.P.A.R.K.L.E recognises that language is a fundamental tool for social inclusion and access to the labour market. However, the specific needs of low-literate and illiterate migrants and refugees remain insufficiently researched and inadequately addressed in both policy and practice, making the language learning process particularly challenging for this group.

To address this gap, S.P.A.R.K.L.E focuses on developing and testing innovative, accessible training approaches tailored to this target group. These include methods such as physical response-based learning, digital tools, command and pragmatic approaches, and Easy-to-Read materials. By equipping educators and teachers with practical training and resources, the project aims to foster long-term impact in both social inclusion and employability of low-literate and illiterate migrants and refugees.

For implementation, S.P.A.R.K.L.E relies on a consortium of partners from four European countries, with complementary expertise across research, education, and innovation.

• X23 (Italy), as the project coordinator, leads overall management, quality assurance, and dissemination.
• Élan Interculturel (France) contributes its expertise in intercultural research and leads the collection and analysis of good practices to inform the development of training materials.
• Asociación Lectura Fácil de la Comunitat Valenciana (Spain) provides specialised knowledge in Easy-to-Read methodology, ensuring accessibility and supporting the development of inclusive content and training.
• Synthesis Center for Research and Education (Cyprus) brings expertise in social innovation and education, overseeing the mobility programme and supporting peer-learning activities.
• Ballafon (Italy), with strong field experience in migrant education, is responsible for implementing pilot trainings, peer-to-peer activities, and local multiplier events.
• Generation for Change (Cyprus) contributes to communication, outreach, and dissemination activities, supporting engagement with target groups and stakeholders.

The consortium brings together expertise in research, pedagogy, and field experience, creating a particularly strong and well-balanced combination for this area. This integrated approach enables the development of practical, scalable solutions that enhance language acquisition, foster social inclusion, and improve access to the labour market for low-literate and illiterate migrants and refugees.

What was discussed?

During the meeting, which took place in an open and collaborative atmosphere, partners established a shared understanding of the project's mission: to support language learning for low-literate migrants and refugees through innovative and accessible approaches.

Key discussions focused on:

• The overall project structure, including work packages, timelines, and expected results

• Roles and responsibilities of each partner organisation

• The implementation plan and Gantt chart, ensuring alignment on deliverables and deadlines

• Training and pilot activities, including the development of educational materials and upcoming teacher training mobility

• Monitoring, evaluation, and quality assurance mechanisms to ensure high-quality outcomes

• The communication and dissemination strategy, including the project website, social media presence, and future events

The next phase of the project will focus on developing key outputs and preparing upcoming activities. Partners will co-create training materials, a structured syllabus, and a user guide, building on feedback from educators gathered during national workshops.

At the same time, preparations will begin for the mobility training, bringing together selected teachers to test and refine the methodologies. Communication and outreach activities will continue to ensure strong stakeholder engagement and visibility.

Following the Kick-Off Meeting, S.P.A.R.K.L.E moves forward by strengthening the collaboration, expanding its network, and increasing its presence on platforms such as EPALE. 

By combining practical implementation with ongoing knowledge exchange, the project aims to support more inclusive and effective language-learning pathways for low-literate and illiterate migrants and refugees across Europe.