Our partnership, composed of Von Hope, Permacultura Cantabria, and Petrklic Help, identified critical issues through a Context Analysis and Focus Groups with adult learners and trainers. These studies revealed an urgent need to address Digital Wounds to prevent harmful consequences such as depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and the escalation of these issues into hate speech and hate crimes. Therefore, the main aim of our project was to work against Digital Wounds and foster a healthy digital environment. The specific objectives were: 1. To complement our expertise in tackling Digital Wounds. 2. To provide adult trainers and adults with tools to combat Digital Wounds together. 3. To empower adult communities to address Digital Wounds and use digital tools ethically.
We applied for this project to address critical issues highlighted by recent data and studies on the use of ICTs and their impact on society. While ICTs are invaluable tools for societal development, their misuse can lead to significant problems such as discrimination and exclusion. Adults often lack competencies in the proper and ethical use of ICTs, and awareness about the consequences of “Digital Wounds”, which include cyberbullying, hate speech, and hate crimes, which are often normalized in adult communities, threatening their safety, mental health, and well-being. Digital Wounds endanger the cohesion of democratic societies, the protection of human rights, and the rule of law. They pose a threat to democratic values, social stability, and peace, representing extreme forms of intolerance and exclusion that can escalate into physical violence and crime. Recognizing these critical needs, our partnership applied for this project to enhance digital competence among adults, promote safe online practices, and mitigate the impact of Digital Wounds on our communities. This project aimed to empower adults with the skills and awareness needed to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.