From 8 to 11 September 2025, the fourth international workshop of the Erasmus+ project “UP2YOUTH – Democratic Future in Youth Responsible Hands” took place in Prague.
Project partners from Latvia, Bulgaria, Poland, and Czechia participated in the visit, focusing on media literacy and the challenges of the digital environment – fake news, disinformation, hate speech, digital trolls, and social media communication strategies. The intensive workshop program combined theoretical knowledge with practical exercises, role plays, and interactive methods.
An Inspiring Workshop
Participants analyzed how disinformation spreads and how to identify it, explored prebunking (a method that means “challenging false information before it reaches people,” in contrast to debunking, which counters fake news after it has spread) and inoculation (showing people a safe, controlled example of disinformation to prepare them to recognize manipulation) methods that help prepare young people to resist manipulative messages. They also discussed fact-checking and debunking approaches, technological solutions to limit harmful content, and practiced constructive online dialogue through role-play with “trolls.”
The workshop was moderated by Veronika Batelková, President of the NGO Zvol si info and one of the leading media literacy experts in Czechia. Her experience helped combine academic insights with practical tools in youth work.
At the opening of the workshop, project manager Magdalena Hanáčková emphasized that this stage is particularly significant, as media literacy and critical thinking are the foundation of strengthening democracy:
“We are here not only as representatives of different countries and organizations, but also as a community united by a shared purpose – to strengthen youth civic education and give them the tools to participate in democracy consciously and responsibly.”
She also highlighted the challenges young people face in the digital environment:
“Our task is to help the young generation not only protect themselves from fake news and hate speech, but also to gain confidence in their ability to participate in civic life – both online and offline.”
An important part of the program was also an exchange of experience with the organization “Člověk v tísni” (People in Need), which is a leading institution in the field of media education in Czechia, providing schools with teaching materials, films, and nationwide media literacy initiatives.
Results and Next Steps
The knowledge gained during the workshop will be used in the UP2YOUTH project, which aims to create a digital educational game with six scenarios, develop teaching materials for schools and non-formal education, and pilot them in different countries.
This stage confirmed that education and proactive action are the strongest weapons against disinformation. At the same time, partners practiced practical skills – verifying sources, recognizing manipulation, and sharing information responsibly in the digital space.
About the UP2YOUTH Project
The UP2YOUTH project is implemented in Poland, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Czechia, with the goal of improving quality and innovation in youth work by identifying and creating new, more effective methods and tools in civic education, media education, and media literacy.
The project foresees the development of digital civic and media literacy tools for young people, as well as training materials for teachers and educators, which will help strengthen civic engagement, improve youth media literacy, promote responsible media use, and reduce the risks of disinformation.
The project’s target groups are young people aged 18–26, teachers and trainers working with youth, youth organization leaders, policymakers in partner countries, and local authorities.
