INternet as a Tool for Empowering Rural NativE youngsTers
INTERNET5 – 12 April 2022 – Căpățâneni, Romania
Watch our project video to take a glimpse of our experience!
about digital citizenship
The concept of digital citizenship integrates the basics of the educational package in the digital world.
Therefore, “good” digital citizenship involves the active involvement of young people and teaches them how to connect, empathize with each other and build lasting relationships through digital tools. On the other hand, “bad” digital citizenship involves cyberbullying, irresponsible use of social networks and a general lack of knowledge about how to use the internet safely.
Participants
Group Leaders
Countries
Impacted People
Project Objectives
The project aimed to educate young people in rural areas as digital citizens. Our specific objectives focused on developing communication and collaboration skills in the online environment for 35 young people from rural areas, increasing their knowledge about digital rights and responsibilities, and their capabilities of using the internet safely. The project involved 35 youngsters and 7 group leaders from Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Poland and Turkey.
Activity Programme
Non-formal education
The activities within the project were designed in such a way as to lead to the fulfillment of the project objectives and were focused on 5 directions. Therefore, we used non-formal educational methods to develop our digital competencies:
1. Get to know each other and team-building activities, which allowed us to achieve a positive group atmosphere. After assessing the expectations of our participants, we had team consolidation games and an introduction to the Erasmus+ program and the Youthpass certificate;
2. Activities that explore the internet and how it works;
3. Activities that explore the rights and responsibilities we have in the online environment;
4. Activities to develop participants’ skills to communicate and cooperate online and to use the internet safely;
5. Reflection and evaluation activities.
Project Results
Knowledge, skills and attitudes
One of the most important results of the project is the learning experience of the participants and the competencies they acquired during the project, such as:
– Digital competencies (how the internet works, digital terms and concepts – Cookies, User Data, Digital Footprint, Fake News, Trolling, Bullying/Cyberbullying, Teasing, Sexting, Hacking, Identity Thieves, etc., online safety and security, digital platforms and opportunities, awareness of digital dangers, digital rights and responsibilities etc.;
– Social and Civic Competencies: communication and collaboration skills, sence of initiative, human rights in the online environment, working in a multicultural environment, responsibility and respect, etc.;
– Cultural awareness and expression Competencies;
– Multilingual Competencies – improved communication skills in English;
– Learning to learn – applying different learning methods, learning by doing, new learning opportunities;
– Entrepreneurial Competencies – communication, management, teamwork, networking, etc.
Also, they created friendships and connections all over Europe, developed their self-esteem and gained more trust in their abilities.
Resources developed during the project
Cyberbullying Poster
Charter of Digital Rights
Treasure Hunt Guidebook
Short Dictionary of Digital Concepts
Presentation on Internet Dangers
I am a teenager who lives in Bulgaria. The „INTERNET” youth exchange was my first project abroad. I expected it to be scary, to have the need to stick to my group of Bulgarians and so on. As soon as we arrived every negative emotion flew away. Everyone accepted us as their long-lost friends. The energy was special from the first moment we entered the hotel. The activities started the next day. On the first day, there were mostly sessions for getting to know each other. This was one of the most important things for me, because from then on everyone started to behave like a family. The next day we started with the educational sessions. The information was taught so interesting and interactive that everyone was participating and enjoying the journey of education.
Of course, there weren’t just the activities. Through the coffee breaks, everyone was still together, talking to each other. Every evening we had „intercultural nights”, where all of the countries presented parts of their culture, gastronomy, history and so on. The ”practices” that weren’t a part of the ,,learning for Internet process” but more part of the ,,communication between people” process were very thought of.
We learned, we laughed, we enjoyed. Especially my life was changed forever by this project. I love the environment, I love the facilitator, I love the organization, I love the people. And as you probably guessed we all cried when we had to leave…
The project „INTERNET AS A TOOL FOR EMPOWERING RURAL NATIVE YOUNGSTERS” was financed with the support of the European Commission through Erasmus+ Programme. This blog reflects only the author’s views, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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