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The Your Language Counts! project brought together partners across Europe to strengthen Heritage Language Education (HLE) and promote the value of multilingualism.
The project focused on supporting teachers, families, and communities in creating inclusive learning environments where children’s languages, identities, and wellbeing are recognised and supported. The project started in 2024 and ended in 2026. |
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objectives
ylc! project
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familia's objectives
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key results
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FAMILY OUTREACH
Family outreach was a central part of the project, highlighting the essential role of families in children’s language development, wellbeing, and sense of belonging. At Familia, we worked closely with multilingual families to co-create accessible and practical materials that support parents in understanding and advocating for Heritage Language Education.
Rather than approaching families as recipients of information, this work focused on partnership, dialogue, and trust. Parents contributed their perspectives, experiences, and ideas, helping to shape materials that are culturally relevant, easy to understand, and meaningful in everyday life.
This process showed that when families are informed, included, and recognised as partners, they play a key role in strengthening children’s multilingual development and educational pathways.
The family outreach work also highlighted the importance of communication between schools, communities, and families, and the need for more inclusive and accessible approaches across different contexts. For Family Outreach, we worked in collaboration with Elix- Conservation Volunteers Greece: a non-governmental not-for-profit organisation that has promoted voluntary service and education since 1987. Its main goal is the personal development of individuals as global citizens through active participation. Social service, environmental protection, cultural heritage conservation, and cultural promotion are the main thematic fields of voluntary projects.
Rather than approaching families as recipients of information, this work focused on partnership, dialogue, and trust. Parents contributed their perspectives, experiences, and ideas, helping to shape materials that are culturally relevant, easy to understand, and meaningful in everyday life.
This process showed that when families are informed, included, and recognised as partners, they play a key role in strengthening children’s multilingual development and educational pathways.
The family outreach work also highlighted the importance of communication between schools, communities, and families, and the need for more inclusive and accessible approaches across different contexts. For Family Outreach, we worked in collaboration with Elix- Conservation Volunteers Greece: a non-governmental not-for-profit organisation that has promoted voluntary service and education since 1987. Its main goal is the personal development of individuals as global citizens through active participation. Social service, environmental protection, cultural heritage conservation, and cultural promotion are the main thematic fields of voluntary projects.
working with pARENTS/ CAREGIVERS: CO-CREATION IN PRACTICE
As part of the project, Familia organized a dedicated meeting with parents from multilingual backgrounds, together with project partner Simeon Oxley, from our partner organization Uppsala University.
This session created a space for open discussion around Heritage Language Education, where parents shared their experiences, challenges, and expectations. The conversation highlighted the importance of accessible information, clearer communication with schools, and greater recognition of families’ role in supporting children’s languages.
The meeting was not only a discussion, but a starting point for co-creation. Parents’ insights directly informed the development of outreach materials, ensuring they reflect real needs and are meaningful for families in different contexts.
This session created a space for open discussion around Heritage Language Education, where parents shared their experiences, challenges, and expectations. The conversation highlighted the importance of accessible information, clearer communication with schools, and greater recognition of families’ role in supporting children’s languages.
The meeting was not only a discussion, but a starting point for co-creation. Parents’ insights directly informed the development of outreach materials, ensuring they reflect real needs and are meaningful for families in different contexts.
our materials
As part of the project, a range of practical materials were developed to support educators and families in Heritage Language Education. These resources are designed to be accessible, multilingual, and easy to use in different contexts. The resources for families were translated by volunteer families. Languages available: English, Arabic, Persian, Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish, Greek.
For FAMILIESClear, accessible information for parents and caregivers
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For professionalsSupporting professionals to strengthen collaboration with families
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English pdf
Ukrainian pdf Russian pdf Persian pdf Arabic pdf Turkish pdf |
English pdf
Ukrainian pdf Russian pdf Persian pdf Arabic pdf Turkish pdf |
English pdf
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VOICES FROM THE PROJECT
Family outreach is not an add-on, but a central part of Heritage Language Education. When families are informed, included, and recognised as partners, they play a key role in children’s language development, wellbeing, and sense of belonging. |
As part of the project, partners were invited to reflect on their experiences and insights. Familia contributed to the “Voices” series, sharing perspectives on family outreach and the role of parents in Heritage Language Education.
This contribution reflects our approach at Familia, where we work closely with families to co-create tools and strengthen collaboration between home, school, and community. Read the whole contribution here |
project impact
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Family outreach was a key component of the project. At Familia, we worked closely with multilingual families to co-create accessible materials that support parents in understanding and advocating for Heritage Language Education. This work highlighted the importance of positioning families as active partners in children’s language learning and wellbeing.
Key outcomes were developed through collaborative Work Packages amongst the partners. The workpackages were designed to provide insights and support to educators, policy makers, and strengthen heritage language education across Europe. To learn more about the overall key outcomes of the project click here |
The YLC! Handbook for Educators has been translated to 7 languages: English, Finnish, Swedish, Greek, French, Dutch and German |
YLC! final conference in essen, gERMANY
The project concluded with a final conference in Essen at the University of Duisburg-Essen, bringing together educators, researchers, policymakers, and organisations working in Heritage Language Education across Europe.
The event provided a space to share results, exchange practices, and reflect on the role of multilingualism, inclusion, and collaboration in education. For Familia, it was also an opportunity to highlight the importance of family outreach and present tools developed together with parents. We hosted an interactive workshop for professionals and policy makers regarding Family Outreach in Heritage Language Education.
Learn more about the Conference here
The event provided a space to share results, exchange practices, and reflect on the role of multilingualism, inclusion, and collaboration in education. For Familia, it was also an opportunity to highlight the importance of family outreach and present tools developed together with parents. We hosted an interactive workshop for professionals and policy makers regarding Family Outreach in Heritage Language Education.
Learn more about the Conference here
Partners
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Through out this project, we collaborated with partners from different countries. These organizations brought a diverse set of expertise, perspectives, and resources. The common goal is to promote heritage language in Europe and raise awareness of its impact on multilingual students.
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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This project was funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme.
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cONTACT/ LEARN MORE
For more information about the project visit the official YLC! website here
If you would like to hear more about Familia's role, or if you have any ideas for future collaboration regarding this matter, please contact Yvette Ahonen at [email protected]
If you would like to hear more about Familia's role, or if you have any ideas for future collaboration regarding this matter, please contact Yvette Ahonen at [email protected]
