Project Information
Project Reference: 2024-1-PT02-KA152-YOU-000202216
Status: Completed
Duration: July 2024 – March 2025
EU Grant: €30,445
Programme: Erasmus+
Action Type: Mobility of Young People
Countries Involved: Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Italy
Project Background
The Dopamine Doers project addressed one of the growing challenges among young people in Europe: excessive use of social media and its impact on mental health, relationships, and daily balance. The project focused on helping young people understand how dopamine influences digital habits and why endless online scrolling can become difficult to control.
Instead of presenting technology as a negative element, the project encouraged participants to develop a healthier and more conscious relationship with digital tools while improving their well-being and self-awareness.
Project Objectives
The main aim of Dopamine Doers was to empower young people with knowledge and practical strategies to manage their digital habits. Participants explored the connection between dopamine, social media use, emotions, and behaviour through interactive learning activities.
The project also focused on creating inclusive spaces where young people could openly discuss their experiences without judgment. It supported personal development, digital literacy, emotional resilience, and intercultural cooperation among participants from different European countries.
Participants and Inclusion
The project involved 28 young people and group leaders from Portugal, Hungary, Italy, and Romania. Participants were mainly aged 18–30 and were selected based on their interest in personal development, mental health, and digital well-being.
Special attention was given to including young people with fewer opportunities, including those facing social, economic, cultural, or geographical barriers. The diverse backgrounds of participants created a supportive environment where everyone could share experiences and learn from each other.
Project Implementation
The project combined non-formal education methods, workshops, outdoor activities, reflection sessions, and intercultural experiences. Through these activities, participants explored the effects of social media addiction and learned practical ways to create a better balance between online and offline life.
Key activities included team-building exercises, cultural evenings, mindfulness walks, creative workshops, and discussions about digital behaviour. Participants also analysed the impact of social media through the documentary The Social Dilemma and explored how digital platforms influence emotions and decision-making.
Learning Activities and Methods
A central part of the project was the DOPAMINE Framework Workshop, where participants learned about different aspects of digital habits, including triggers, self-control, mindfulness, and personal strategies for change.
Creative activities such as mandala painting, vision boards, journaling, and outdoor exercises helped participants discover alternative sources of positive experiences beyond digital environments. Emotional resilience workshops also supported young people in developing self-awareness and healthier coping strategies.
Key Results and Achievements
The project helped participants better understand how dopamine and social media influence attention, emotions, and behaviour. They gained practical skills to manage screen time, recognise unhealthy digital patterns, and make more conscious choices about technology use.
Participants created personal digital well-being tools and developed strategies for reducing automatic online habits. Many reported increased confidence, improved emotional awareness, and a stronger ability to maintain a healthier digital balance.
Impact on Communities and Organisations
The project created long-term benefits beyond the mobility activity. Participants shared their knowledge with friends, families, and local communities, becoming ambassadors for digital well-being and responsible technology use.
Partner organisations also strengthened their capacity to support young people facing digital challenges. The project resources and learning methods can continue to be used in youth work activities, workshops, and future European cooperation projects.
Conclusion
Dopamine Doers showed how youth education can help young people better understand the relationship between technology, emotions, and mental health. Through international cooperation, creative learning, and practical tools, the project encouraged participants to become more aware and responsible digital citizens.
The project created lasting connections between young people from different countries and promoted a more balanced approach to digital life based on awareness, well-being, and personal growth.
