Media Literacy Capacity-Building for Western Balkan Students: Tackling the Spread of Disinformation

This project aims to strengthen media literacy skills among students from the Western Balkans by equipping them with the knowledge and tools to combat disinformation. Through a summer school program, participants will develop critical thinking skills and create peer-led campaigns that challenge the spread of false information in their communities.

Why Media Literacy Matters

The Western Balkans faces a significant challenge in countering disinformation due to persistently low media literacy levels. This gap makes individuals more susceptible to biased reporting, propaganda, and misinformation, which in turn fuels political and social tensions, undermining democracy and regional stability. Additionally, the region’s media landscape is often criticized for ideological biases, lack of transparency, and susceptibility to political influence—all of which contribute to the unregulated spread of false information.

Project Objectives

The project’s primary goal is to enhance media literacy among young people—students from diverse academic backgrounds across the Western Balkans—enabling them to identify and challenge biases that threaten democratic cooperation, social cohesion, and reconciliation.

A key component of the initiative is the development of public awareness campaigns designed by participants. These campaigns will target online spaces, where disinformation spreads most rapidly, ensuring that young people across the region are better equipped to navigate the digital information landscape.

Photo by Cublo

Project Concept

Children, whether displaced or in relatively safe areas, live in a disturbing and uncertain environment during war. Their lack of understanding can exacerbate their trauma. To address this, we developed a cross-disciplinary project combining trauma-focused therapy, storytelling, non-formal education, and art.

Our project targets displaced families and children, engaging them through various artistic mediums and therapeutic methods. By providing a safe space for expression, we aim to integrate children into new contexts, promote dialogue, and support mental health through cultural activities.

Key Activities and Outputs

Trauma Work Forum in Sarajevo: Practicing psychologists, scientists, cultural workers, specialists working with children with the purpose to analyze best practices, consolidate multifaceted experiences, and strengthen the team’s skills in working with children and families during wartime.

Storytelling Courses for Children:

  • Literature: Storytelling through writing.
  • Forum-Theater: Storytelling through acting.
  • Visual Art: Storytelling through drawing, sculpture, and object creation.
  • Audio Studios: Storytelling through radio and podcast recordings.
  • Psychologist Involvement: Ensuring emotional safety during sessions.

Public Lectures and Workshops for Parents and Educators, guiding them on how to talk to children about war, and for Professionals sharing methods developed during the project for working with children and families.

Community Engagement and Outreach:

  • Exhibition: Featuring stories and artworks created by the children, aimed at fostering integration and tolerance.
  • Online Workshop: Sharing work methods and experiences with partner organizations.

Expected Outcomes

  • Emotional Expression: Creating a safe space for displaced children to express their experiences.
  • Psychological Healing: Supporting the mental well-being and resilience of traumatized children.
  • Community Integration: Helping families and children engage with the local community.
  • Knowledge Transfer: Equipping parents, teachers, and professionals with tools to support children affected by war.

Photo by Cublo

Summer School on Media Literacy

Žabljak, Montenegro | September 3–10, 2024

From September 3 to September 10, 2024, a consortium of organizations from the Balkans and Visegrad countries co-organized an engaging Summer School on Media Literacy in the picturesque town of Žabljak, Montenegro. Bringing together 30 young leaders from across the Western Balkans, the program aimed to equip participants with the skills needed to navigate today’s complex information landscape and counter the spread of disinformation.

The program began with interactive team-building activities, fostering collaboration and a strong foundation for learning. Throughout the week, participants engaged in expert-led sessions on topics such as hybrid threats, digital security, fact-checking, and the financial and political motivations behind disinformation. They explored the role of artificial intelligence in creating fake news, learned about investigative research methods, and gained insights into the power of strategic communication in addressing societal polarization. The program also featured hands-on workshops, where participants applied their knowledge to analyze media narratives and develop targeted awareness campaigns.

Beyond knowledge-building, the Summer School served as a catalyst for action. Participants discussed strategies for implementing media literacy initiatives in their home countries, ensuring that the skills and insights gained during the program would translate into real-world impact. By fostering critical thinking and strengthening digital resilience, the initiative empowered a new generation of young leaders to challenge misinformation and contribute to a more informed and democratic society in the Western Balkans.

This project is supported by “Culture Helps / Культура допомагає” – a project co-funded by the EU Creative Europe Program and implemented by Insha Osvita (UA) and zusa (DE).

Project is implemented in partnership with:

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