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Critical Health Literacy

2025-3-AT01-KA153-YOU-0003703722025Mobility of youth workersongoing
Countries: AT|AZ|GE|HU|TR|RO · Grant: €54,498
Physical and mental health, well-beingKey competences development

Objectives

Our fundamental aim in implementing this project is to enhance the capacity of youth workers across Europe to effectively address the complex challenges young people face when navigating the modern health information landscape. We want to move youth work practice towards empowering young people with the critical thinking skills, media literacy, and resilience needed to become discerning consumers and responsible sharers of health-related content in an increasingly digital world. With online platforms becoming the primary source of information for young people and studies indicating that over 70% of young Europeans seek health advice online, the youth work sector faces a challenge. The widespread dissemination of misinformation and the rise of commercially driven “wellness” trends further amplify this concern. In response, our project aims to foster a meaningful shift in how youth workers address these issues, equipping them with the skills and strategies needed to support informed, critical, and health-conscious youth engagement. From the perspective of youth work practice, our specific objectives are as follows: 1-We want them to confidently understand the "info-demic," recognize the tactics of health misinformation (including fads, myths, and influencer marketing), and grasp the psychological and commercial drivers behind it. This means they can move beyond generic warnings to facilitate informed discussions based on a solid understanding of the current digital environment. 2-Our goal is for youth workers to leave with a toolkit of concrete skills they can teach young people, how to assess the credibility of online sources, deconstruct persuasive media messages, and identify biased or unsubstantiated health claims. This transforms their role from mere information providers to facilitators of critical inquiry. 3-We aim for youth workers to be able to address the often-overlooked psychosocial impacts of online health culture, helping young people develop resilience against negative media influences, cultivate self-compassion, and foster a balanced relationship with health technology. This broadens the scope of "health" within youth work to be more holistic. 4-We want to spark innovation in their practice by having them co-create and adapt interactive methodologies and resources that are relevant and appealing to young people, moving away from didactic approaches towards more participatory and experiential learning. 5-Our project aims to ensure that youth workers can navigate sensitive health discussions responsibly, promote autonomy, avoid unintentional harm, and know when to refer young people to specialized professional support, thereby enhancing the professionalism and safety of their practice.

Project partners (6)