Media literacy importance: The project aimed to address the growing need for media literacy, defined as the ability to identify different types of media and understand the messages they convey. Media literacy encompassed practices that enabled individuals to access, critically evaluate, and create or manipulate media. In a society increasingly influenced by social and mass media, particularly during events like the COVID-19 pandemic, it became essential to educate young people on distinguishing between real and fake news. This was especially crucial for young people with fewer opportunities and social obstacles, as they were often more vulnerable to misinformation and may have used media inefficiently or inappropriately. Context and background: Recent research highlighted the low levels of media literacy in the project’s partner countries. The Media Literacy Index 2021 revealed varying scores: the Netherlands scored 68 points, while Romania scored as low as 34. These disparities provided a rich ground for discussion and experience sharing among participants from different countries. In Spain, 60% of the population claimed they could differentiate between fake and real news; however, studies indicated that many struggled with this distinction. In Lithuania, young people were particularly susceptible to media influence, often receiving misleading information through mass media channels, which contributed to dissatisfaction with their country's economic situation and led to emigration. The project identified a significant wave of fake news and conspiracy theories that had arisen with the first COVID-19 wave and continued to persist. Partners from Spain emphasized the importance of media literacy for young people with social obstacles and fewer opportunities, suggesting that improved media literacy could help them better identify and address social problems in society. In Slovakia, young people demonstrated low media literacy and high vulnerability to fake news. In Romania, only 12% of those aged 16-74 checked the information they read on news sites or social media, the second-lowest percentage in the EU after Lithuania. Additionally, 39% of Romanian respondents trusted news and information from online networks and messaging apps, a higher percentage than the EU average of 26%. More than half (79%) of the participants felt somewhat confident in identifying fake news. Research also showed that 43.5% of Italian and 43.3% of Slovak respondents failed to correctly evaluate the trustworthiness of the information they received. Final project’s goal: Developing competences in the field of media literacy for 34 youngsters (including 19 participants (out of which 16 young participants) with fewer opportunities (geographical, social anbd migrant background obstacles) aged 16 – 26 years by implementing a youth exchange between 01-10.02.2023 in Kaunas, Lithuania. Project’s objectives: O1: To raise awareness about mass media and its effects for 34 young participants (42 people in total) and their local communities by the end of the project. O2: To increase media literacy skills for 34 young participants (42 people in total) by the end of the project. O3: To learn how to differentiate and identify fake news for project's participants and local communities by the end of the project.