Background

Being online is a way of living for young Europeans: According to Eurostat, a large majority of young people in the EU make daily use of the internet, but only a quarter use the full potential of digital technologies to exercise their civic rights, to access health and education services, and for political participation. There is a clear gap in the way young people use digital technologies, and this gap is even wider when it comes to disadvantaged youth.

ACTIon – Promoting active citizenship through civic education and active online participation of youth role models is an Erasmus+ KA3 Social inclusion project that started at the beginning of 2021 to fill this gap.

The three-year project aims to train young people from socially disadvantaged areas, as well as minority and refugee groups, to support their integration into mainstream society by enhancing access to health, education, online participation, the labour market and civic engagement.

Audience

The ACTIon Final International Workshop to take place on 25 September during the first day of the ALL DIGITAL Summit at the Algebra University College invites participants who are curious to learn and have hands-on experience on alternative training programmes and tools to equip adolescents and young people (14-25 years old) with digital competencies for active citizenship and online participation.

This workshop will be mostly interesting for:

• practitioners in formal education environments, e.g. teachers, instructors
• trainers and youth workers offering non-formal training to young people
• other professionals/academicians/students who are working on or wishing to play a role in empowering young people with digital/social skills and civic education
• those interested in social inclusion – as the project has a specific focus on disadvantaged youth
• young people who want to reflect on digital skills for active citizenship and online participation

Programme

During the first part of the workshop, participants will hear about two training programmes and the outcomes of their piloting activities:

Digital Participation and Active Citizenship (DigiPAC) for formal education of children and adolescents, 14-18 years old

• How to establish a positive, meaningful and respectful interaction online (netiquette)
• Having a good understanding of inclusion, respect and tolerance
• Learning how to take action against hate speech, discrimination and cyberbullying
• Learning about the ways of self-expression, storytelling, electioneering (defending one’s opinions)
• Using online participation tools

Model for Opinion Leaders Activation (MOLA) for community-based education of young adults, up to 25 years old

• Safe and efficient browsing on internet
• Searching for health information
• Identifying fake news and disinformation
• Differentiating between fact/opinion
• Understanding how to be a positive opinion leader/online influencer
• Being aware of one’s digital identity: “Think before you post!”

Training materials are available to download here.

In the second part, the World Café will offer the following hands-on experience to the participants:

• Using the FIRE app to get skills for turning an idea to reality (how to organize a community, plan and implement changes and communicate about your work/cause/project results)
• Working together to get an understanding of netiquette and electioneering, as well as learning how to use the OPIN platform for online participation
• Brainstorming on policy recommendations to improve digital participation and active citizenship for young people at local, national and European level

Registration

Interested in joining us? Please register to the ALL DIGITAL Summit here and select the ACTIon workshop on the first day of the programme.