About the project
The internet is a central part of daily life, making the understanding and protection of human rights in the digital space a crucial modern skill. Youth workers play an important role in empowering young people to be aware of their digital rights, the limits of free speech, and how to defend against online attacks.
This training equipped youth workers with the tools and knowledge to confront hate speech, manage conflicts in digital spaces, and foster a safe, respectful online environment. Through interactive workshops and expert-led discussions, participants explored key topics like the boundaries of free speech, international human rights protection, and the importance of online safety and netiquette. The project aimed to build a future where digital spaces are approached in the same respectful and rights-based way as the physical world.
This non-formal learning activity was part of the Erasmus+ Accredited projects in the field of youth. Information about European Dialogue’s accreditation is also available on the Erasmus+ Dissemination Platform.
Objectives:
- Create a space for youth workers to gain or improve valuable competences they need on their path to become effective and responsible youth workers who are able to address sensitive topics related to human rights and support young people to better know their rights (and responsibilities) and stand up for them.
- Help youth workers gain insights into international law and newest trends, materials, and methods related to protection, promotion, and defence of human rights.
- Empower youth workers to be ready to effectively use gamification methods in the context of human rights.
About the activity
December 2-8, 2024 in Hrnčiarovce nad Parnou, Slovakia
The training was designed for motivated youth workers, trainers, facilitators, mentors, and NGO staff members aged 18 or older who were fluent in English. The participants who attended were selected for their eagerness to gain new competences in human rights, online conflict management, and promoting digital safety.
Participants acquired a variety of competences to tackle contemporary challenges related to AI, media, and digital literacy. During the program, they:
- Gained an understanding of AI tools for youth work, including their benefits and risks.
- Got insight into ethical considerations when using AI in youth work, including privacy, algorithmic bias, and responsible implementation of AI.
- Developed critical media literacy skills, such as how to read, sort, make, and understand media.
- Understood the principles of ethical media creation, focusing on accuracy, fairness, and inclusivity, while learning how to guide young people in producing responsible and impactful digital content.
- Learned about digital safety, including strategies to counter cyberbullying, hate speech, and online harassment.
- Explored and practiced using various AI tools, gaining valuable experience with technologies that can enhance youth work, ensure online safety, and support critical media literacy.
- Participated in study visits to local organizations to explore AI trends and media literacy practices.
- Collaborated on practical outputs, applying learned skills to create meaningful resources.
Final materials created by participants
The participants of the training were asked to create educational games and videos for the topic of Human Rights. All participants were randomly split into smaller groups for their group work. The process was guided with the facilitators in two ways. Firstly, parts of the workshops during the week focused on the importance and methodology of gamification. Then, in the last two working days of the training course, the facilitators were hosting editorial meetings with the groups of participants in order to gather feedback and improve their work. All group works were presented in the last session of the training course among their peers. They were given the option to either create a physical game or a digital version of the game, as well as an instructional/promotional video for the game or regarding the topic of the training. Physical assets of the games are preserved in the European Dialogue’s office.
Materials Set 1) Digital games on hate speech; Video on hate speech
Materials Set 2) Image of table-top game; Promotional video on table-top game; Video on human rights; Instructions for the game
Materials Set 3) DnD table-top game on media literacy and human rights: image 1, image 2, image 3; Promotional video on the game; Video on how to tackle fake news; Instructions and table-top game are available in the European Dialogue’s office.
Resources shared by trainers and organisers
Impressions from the training
You can check the pictures on our social media – gallery on Instagram and on Facebook
European Dialogue / Európsky Dialóg, o.z.
Financed by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, KA1 – Mobility of young people for accredited organisations, through its Slovak National Agency – NIVAM.
Participants of the training can receive LinkedIn certificate. If you are one of them, please write to m.maska@europskydialog.eu for details that are needed to complete the certificate.
