Enhancing Young People’s Media Literacy for Civic Engagement
Introduction
In today’s digital age, media literacy is essential for young people to engage in civic life and navigate information responsibly. The “Media Civic Engagers” project was designed to enhance youth media literacy, encourage civic participation, and counter misinformation. By providing youth workers and organizations with innovative educational tools and resources, the project aimed to strengthen democracy and active citizenship.
Project Overview
This Erasmus+ project ran from February 2021 to April 2023 and received an EU grant of €210,803.46. The project was a “Strategic Partnership for Youth” initiative, covering three countries and focusing on ICT, digital competencies, innovative curricula, and youth participation. It aimed to develop resources for youth workers, support young people in media literacy, and promote cross-sectoral collaboration.
Objectives
The key goals of the “Media Civic Engagers” project were:
- To improve young people’s media literacy and critical thinking skills.
- To provide training curricula, guides, and innovative educational tools for youth workers.
- To develop an online platform where young people can showcase media projects.
- To empower young people as content creators and active civic participants.
- To promote cross-sectoral cooperation among youth organizations.
- To strengthen democracy by countering manipulation and disinformation.
Project Activities
Research and Development
The project conducted extensive research on young people’s media participation and civic engagement. Scientific articles and research reports were produced to understand the challenges and opportunities in media literacy across the participating countries.
Training and Educational Resources
A comprehensive training curriculum was developed to equip youth workers with media education skills. A guide was created to support youth organizations in designing inclusive media projects, and a training toolkit provided practical methods to enhance media and information literacy workshops.
Workshops and Transnational Collaboration
The project hosted both transnational and local workshops to train youth workers and engage young people in media and civic activities. These workshops reached at least 125 youth workers and 100 young participants, promoting media literacy as a tool for civic engagement.
Online Educational Platform
A digital platform was developed to provide young people (aged 16-24) with interactive resources, allowing them to showcase their media projects. Youth workers could access training materials and educational media content to support their work in civic engagement.
Results and Impact
The “Media Civic Engagers” project achieved significant results, including:
- An online platform where young people could share media projects and access learning resources.
- A training toolkit for youth workers to improve their media literacy workshops.
- A guide to help youth organizations develop media projects that promote civic participation.
- A structured training curriculum for youth workers on media skills and civic engagement.
- Research findings on media literacy among young people and the effectiveness of the project’s outputs.
Conclusion
The “Media Civic Engagers” project successfully strengthened young people’s media literacy and civic engagement skills. By equipping youth workers with essential tools and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, the project contributed to a more informed and engaged youth community. The project’s outputs continue to support media education initiatives across Europe, empowering young people to become critical thinkers and active participants in democratic society.
