From Erasmus+ to the Community: Over 100 Young People in Cahul Engaged in Media Literacy and Disinformation Activities

Participation in an international project becomes even more valuable when the experience and knowledge gained are brought back to the community and shared with other young people.

Following their participation in the Erasmus+ project “Youth Participation Lab 2.0: Youth-led action against disinformation”, held in Cumpăna, Romania, participants from the CRDC community continued the learning process through follow-up activities organized in Cahul Municipality.

Each participant delivered at least one information session, and through these activities more than 100 young people learned about the project experience, the methods used and the main topics addressed during the mobility.

Media literacy and community journalism through interactive methods

The sessions included games, exercises and discussions on media literacy, community journalism, fake news and disinformation.

Young people discussed how they can assess online information more critically, the importance of verifying sources and the responsibility each person has when sharing content.

The activities aimed not only to provide information, but also to stimulate critical thinking and dialogue about how disinformation can influence young people’s opinions, decisions and civic participation.

One mobility experience multiplied across several institutions in Cahul

The follow-up activities were carried out by the participants in several educational institutions across the municipality.

Zbirciog Biatris organized sessions at “Ioan Vodă” Theoretical High School, while Buzilă Alexandra carried out activities at “Ion Creangă” Theoretical High School.

Coșer Daria and Moraru Gabriela delivered sessions at the Cahul Medical College, including in student dormitories, thus extending access to information to young people beyond traditional activity formats.

Through these sessions, the experience gained in Cumpăna was transferred to a much wider group of young people in Cahul.

For CRDC, the follow-up component is important because it transforms individual participation into a result for the wider community.

Young people who participate in international mobilities do not remain only beneficiaries of an Erasmus+ experience; they can also become multipliers of the information and methods they have learned, later contributing to local activities, non-formal education initiatives and the development of other young people.

The experience of the project therefore continued beyond the mobility in Romania through concrete activities in high schools, colleges and spaces frequented by young people in Cahul.

We thank the participants for their consistency and for transforming an international experience into local action.

The project “Youth Participation Lab 2.0: Youth-led action against disinformation” was coordinated by GEYC – Group of the European Youth for Change, which brought together participants from several European countries in a learning process dedicated to combating disinformation, media literacy and active youth participation.

We thank the GEYC team for the opportunity offered to young people from the CRDC community and for creating a framework for learning, experience exchange and the subsequent multiplication of results within local communities.