Yvette Ahonen
How was family outreach covered in the project?
Family outreach was an important element of the project’s work on Heritage Language Education (HLE). Through the collaboration between partners, including ELIX, we developed practical outreach tools and materials for both professionals and families. We worked directly with parents from different language communities to co-create accessible flyers and resources that inform families about their children’s linguistic rights and available HLE opportunities. In addition, workshops and discussions with teachers and stakeholders highlighted the importance of building sustainable school–family–community partnerships.
Why is it so important to include FO in HLE?
Family outreach is essential because HLE does not happen in isolation. Families play a key role in maintaining and developing children’s heritage languages, supporting identity development, and strengthening wellbeing and belonging. When families are informed, welcomed, and engaged as partners, children benefit from stronger language development and more inclusive educational experiences. Effective outreach also builds trust between schools, teachers, and multilingual communities, ensuring that HLE programmes are accessible, and sustainable.
What has to be done still to further promote FO in HLE?
There is a continued need to recognize families as equal partners in HLE and to provide educators and institutions with practical tools and training for engaging multilingual communities. Outreach materials should be accessible in multiple languages and culturally responsive. More structured collaboration between schools, municipalities, community organizations, and families is needed to ensure that information about HLE reaches all parents. Long-term investment in family engagement practices, as well as spaces for dialogue and co-creation with parents, will help strengthen participation and impact.
Is there anything else you would like to add regarding the project?
One of the most valuable aspects of the project has been the opportunity to learn directly from families, teachers, and communities across different countries. Co-creating materials and exchanging practices has shown that while contexts vary, the need for strong family–school collaboration in HLE is shared across Europe. We hope the tools and resources developed through this project will continue to support families, educators, and policymakers in promoting multilingualism and inclusive education beyond the project’s duration.
Family outreach was an important element of the project’s work on Heritage Language Education (HLE). Through the collaboration between partners, including ELIX, we developed practical outreach tools and materials for both professionals and families. We worked directly with parents from different language communities to co-create accessible flyers and resources that inform families about their children’s linguistic rights and available HLE opportunities. In addition, workshops and discussions with teachers and stakeholders highlighted the importance of building sustainable school–family–community partnerships.
Why is it so important to include FO in HLE?
Family outreach is essential because HLE does not happen in isolation. Families play a key role in maintaining and developing children’s heritage languages, supporting identity development, and strengthening wellbeing and belonging. When families are informed, welcomed, and engaged as partners, children benefit from stronger language development and more inclusive educational experiences. Effective outreach also builds trust between schools, teachers, and multilingual communities, ensuring that HLE programmes are accessible, and sustainable.
What has to be done still to further promote FO in HLE?
There is a continued need to recognize families as equal partners in HLE and to provide educators and institutions with practical tools and training for engaging multilingual communities. Outreach materials should be accessible in multiple languages and culturally responsive. More structured collaboration between schools, municipalities, community organizations, and families is needed to ensure that information about HLE reaches all parents. Long-term investment in family engagement practices, as well as spaces for dialogue and co-creation with parents, will help strengthen participation and impact.
Is there anything else you would like to add regarding the project?
One of the most valuable aspects of the project has been the opportunity to learn directly from families, teachers, and communities across different countries. Co-creating materials and exchanging practices has shown that while contexts vary, the need for strong family–school collaboration in HLE is shared across Europe. We hope the tools and resources developed through this project will continue to support families, educators, and policymakers in promoting multilingualism and inclusive education beyond the project’s duration.