From June 9 to 12, 2025, an international partner meeting was held in Cēsis as part of the project “UP2YOUTH – Democratic Future in Youth Responsible Hands,” bringing together youth field specialists and media literacy educators from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Poland, and Latvia. The aim of the meeting was to strengthen the understanding of young people’s role in today’s digital society and promote their ability to critically evaluate media content, thus supporting the sustainability of democracy in Europe.
The venue – Rucka Manor in Cēsis – became a collaborative space where partners engaged in intensive discussions over four days about media literacy training methods, analyzed current trends, and developed tools to help youth become knowledgeable, responsible, and active citizens. The workshops were led by Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Rector Dr. Agnese Dāvidsone and Director of Information and Communication Science study direction Māra Arāja.
Media Literacy as a Pillar of Democracy
The “UP2YOUTH” project is based on the belief that critical thinking and media literacy are essential skills for 21st-century youth. Participants took part in various learning activities aimed at understanding how media influence public perception, how media messages are created for different audiences, and how to identify manipulation and disinformation.
One of the most notable elements of the event was the practical workshop “Understanding Audiences: From Personas to Media Production,” where participants analyzed audience behavior and how media adapt content to different segments of society. This experience helps develop empathy, media awareness, and the ability to recognize the intentions behind every message.
“As a trainer, it is important for me to recognize that each participant is different, and often we don’t know their experience or needs at first. That’s why I use diverse methods in the learning process—discussion, reflection, and experimentation—to create an engaging environment and ensure meaningful impact,” shared a project partner from Poland.
The program also included an interactive escape game, during which teams competed in tasks involving fact-checking, identifying disinformation, recognizing visual manipulation, and analyzing news sources. The game served as a creative and effective way to develop media literacy through collaboration and gamification.
International Cooperation and Sustainable Outcomes
The project goes beyond training – one of its long-term goals is to develop an educational video game, incorporating best practices and methods from the collaborative work. The game’s content will be based on the challenges and opportunities identified during this meeting and later used in youth work across all partner countries.
“This meeting is a testament to how important it is to develop a shared European vision on how to strengthen youth media literacy and responsible civic engagement. Only together can we build a safe, informed, and democratic future,” said Inguna Kucina, project manager from the Vidzeme Planning Region.
On the final day, participants summarized their experiences and developed recommendations for the game’s structure, while also discussing how to better engage young people as active participants in democratic processes – from media understanding to civic involvement.
About project UP2YOUTH
The UP2YOUTH project is implemented in 4 countries – Poland, Bulgaria, Latvia and the Czech Republic – with the aim of increasing the quality and innovation in work with youth, identifying and creating new, more effective methods and tools in the field of youth civic education, media education and media literacy.
As part of this initiative, the project will develop digital tools for civic and media literacy aimed at young people, as well as educational materials for teachers. These resources will help strengthen civic engagement, improve media literacy among youth, promote responsible media consumption, and mitigate the risks of misinformation.
The project targets young people aged 18-26, educators and trainers working with youth, as well as youth organization leaders, policy makers in partner countries, and local authorities.
