We invite youth workers, teachers, library staff and other professionals working with young people aged 14–19 to join the pilot training of the international Erasmus+ project YouTHink and test a newly developed media and information literacy programme with their youth groups.
Pilot activities are being organised in Lithuania, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Switzerland. Country-specific registration details are provided at the end of this publication.
Would you like to help young people navigate the digital world more effectively?
Social media, algorithms, artificial intelligence, deepfakes, disinformation and online scams are now part of young people’s everyday lives. YouTHink was created to help them better understand these phenomena, recognise the risks and engage with the digital world more critically, confidently and safely.
Mentors will play a central role in supporting young people throughout the programme. YouTHink mentors do not need to be IT specialists or IT teachers.
The programme will also offer youth workers the opportunity to try out new educational methods and resources on topics such as:
- Disinformation and fake news;
- Algorithms and information bubbles;
- Artificial intelligence and deepfakes;
- Emotional manipulation and online scams;
- Responsible use of social media;
- Critical thinking and digital citizenship.
During the pilot, mentors will facilitate young people’s learning rather than deliver lectures or prepare theoretical slides. They will help participants engage with the scenarios, ask questions, encourage discussion, observe their choices and support reflection on their decisions.
The aim is to help young people ask questions, recognise manipulation, evaluate information and make more informed decisions.
Selection criteria for mentors
- Work with young people
Priority will be given to youth workers and other professionals working with young people in youth organisations, schools, libraries or other institutions. - Location
Priority will be given to those working in rural areas and smaller towns. - Experience
Experience of working with young people aged 14–19 is important. - Equipment
The youth group must have access to computers or tablets during the pilot training. The project does not provide equipment. - Availability
Applicants must be able to dedicate time to preparation and delivery of the pilot training during October–November.
We aim to involve at least 10 mentors in each of the four countries contributing to the 40-mentor target: Lithuania, Italy, Portugal and Slovenia.
The selected mentors will test the programme with small groups of young people aged 14–19 during October–November. Before the pilot, partners will organise online preparation sessions in the respective national languages to introduce the programme and explain how to use it. Guidance and support will also be available throughout the pilot.
Would you like to become a YouTHink mentor?
Take part in the programme and help shape a new generation of digital citizens who are more aware, critical and responsible.
Registration is managed separately in each country.
Early registration is encouraged so that prospective mentors can attend the scheduled online preparation sessions. Those joining later will receive a set of instructions for using the YouTHink learning materials independently in their work with young people.