From Classrooms to Commissioners: EMBRACE Shines at EACEA’s 20th Anniversary
What does it mean to “embrace” the future of European education? On March 24th, 2026, the EMBRACE project provided a vivid answer during the 20th Anniversary of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) in Brussels.
A New Language for Policy
Led by Project Coordinator Inmaculada Pérez Rocha, the interactive video presentation broke the mold of traditional project reporting. Using a dynamic, interactive video format featuring our EMBRACE squad, Inma engaged in a live dialogue with the project’s digital characters – the voices of the children who are at the heart of our mission.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/Wh5BTVCSHVs
This interactive approach highlighted the five pillars of well-being (physical, cognitive, emotional, spiritual, and social) that form the foundation of the EMBRACE curriculum. By bringing these characters to life in front of European leaders, the project demonstrated that emotional literacy is the key to tackling modern challenges like cyberbullying and social exclusion.
Direct Impact: The Children’s Letter
The most poignant moment of the ceremony was the physical handover of a letter written by over 130 European children from Romania. Our character, Bytu, handed over the letter to Inmaculada Pérez Rocha, who delivered it to Commissioner Glenn Micallef. Inside were the collective thoughts and hopes of over 130 children from the EMBRACE Forum in Bucharest.
In this letter, they called for concrete, visible, and funded support systems in schools and communities, including access to counseling, safe spaces for emotional expression, anti-bullying measures, digital well-being education, and meaningful involvement of young people in decisions that affect their lives.
This act of “Structured Participation” perfectly aligns with the goals of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu and the European Child Guarantee. It sent a clear message to the Commission: children are not just passive recipients of policy – they are active stakeholders in their own future.
Our Role in the Transformation
As partners in the EMBRACE consortium, we see this success as a validation of our collective work. The enthusiasm from the Commissioner and the EACEA staff proves that there is a deep, urgent need for human-centered, resilient-focused education across the Union.
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) has spent 20 years building bridges between European institutions and local impact. We are honored to be one of the stories of transformation crossing that bridge today.
Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient Europe – one emotion at a time. 💛🇪🇺
Funding Agency: EACEA – European Education and Culture Executive Agency
Learn more about EMBRACE: embrace-future.eu
