Mind the Feed / Youth Exchange

Aims & objectives

The programme aimed to improve media literacy among 43 young participants and 8 group leaders by developing their understanding of misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, media bias, and algorithmic influence in digital environments.

The activity responded to the growing need for critical digital literacy among young people in Europe, particularly in relation to social media use, online safety, and democratic participation.

The project supported the partner organisations’ objectives of empowering young people with critical thinking skills, responsible digital behaviour, and tools for fact-checking and information analysis.

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

The youth exchange brought together 43 young participants and 8 group leaders from diverse European backgrounds participating in an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange: Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, Latvia and Lithuania. The project was delivered by an international facilitator within an Erasmus+ context.

Training methods used & main activities

During the youth exchange were used non-formal education methodologies, including:

experiential learning activities
group discussions and peer learning
reflection circles and debriefing sessions
simulation exercises on misinformation and media manipulation
interactive workshops on fact-checking tools
action planning for personal media literacy habits

Participants were actively engaged in learning through practice, reflection, and collaborative group work.

Outcomes of the activity

The project resulted in strong learning outcomes across media literacy, critical thinking, intercultural communication, and personal development.

Evaluation data (end-of-project surveys and qualitative feedback) showed high self-reported progress across all key competence areas, particularly in media literacy, digital citizenship, and intercultural teamwork.

Participants reported improved ability to identify misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, and media bias, as well as increased confidence in using fact-checking tools and critically evaluating online content. They also demonstrated greater awareness of algorithmic influence and responsible digital behaviour.

On a personal development level, participants reported increased confidence in intercultural communication, teamwork, and English language use, as well as higher motivation to engage in future Erasmus+ opportunities.

Key impactful elements included experiential activities such as propaganda simulations, deepfake/fake news creation tasks, intercultural evenings, debates, and structured reflection sessions.

Success indicators:

- High self-reported competence development across media literacy and digital citizenship areas
- Increased confidence in intercultural teamwork and communication
- Improved English communication confidence in international settings
- Strong motivation for future Erasmus+ participation
- High engagement and positive qualitative feedback on experiential learning methods

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

My main responsibilities as a facilitator/trainer in this context were the following:

- designing and delivering non-formal educational sessions on media literacy, misinformation, propaganda, and digital citizenship
- facilitating group learning processes, reflection activities, and debriefing sessions
- contributing to energisers, group dynamics, and participatory learning flow
- supporting intercultural teamwork and communication among participants
-contributing to coordination within the team
- ensuring a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment throughout the programme

I worked on this training for 9 days as a full time trainer.