The goal of this project was to organize three training events for students, helping them gain knowledge on civic responsibility, media literacy, democratic engagement, and leadership. By empowering participants as ambassadors and role models, the project enabled them to act as catalysts, inspiring their peers. The students involved educated others on how to analyze information, distinguish between fake news and legitimate sources, evaluate arguments, and assess the credibility of sources. They shared this knowledge with the educational society, promoting broader public understanding of civic responsibility and democratic participation. This was supported by tools created by the students themselves. The “peer learning” method was applied, enabling those who had acquired knowledge to pass it on to other students and the wider community. Overall, the project played an important role in fostering positive change both within and beyond the VET schools of the partner institutions.
The need was to educate students by strengthening their civic responsibility, fostering democratic engagement, enhancing their ability to identify fake news and apply critical thinking, and developing essential skills in communication, collaboration, and initiative-taking. As the next generation, students need to understand the importance of taking initiative and actively contributing to decisions and policies that affect their lives, their communities, and the environment. In today’s digital era, where information flows from countless sources: television, radio, print media, social networks, podcasts, online platforms, public events, etc., critical thinking skills are essential. Students must learn to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and discern reliable from false content. The trainings organized during the project not only built students’ personal competencies but also equipped them to serve as ambassadors of change. By sharing their insights, tools, and experiences with peers and educational communities, both locally and internationally, they contributed to building a more informed society that values civic responsibility and participatory democracy.