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Disconnect to Reconnect

2026-1-SI02-KA152-YOU-0003996852026Mobility of young peopleongoing
Countries: SI|PL|LT|MK|ES · Grant: €46,427
Media literacy and tackling disinformationPhysical and mental health, well-beingDigital content, technologies and practices

Objectives

By implementing this project, we aim to offer young people a concrete, practical “training” in youth work on the topic of digital balance and mental health: how to reduce screen overload, strengthen authentic face-to-face communication, and build habits that support well-being even after returning home. The objectives are designed to be not only informative, but developmental—guiding participants from experience (disconnect in nature) to transfer into real life (reconnect and maintaining new habits in an urban setting). The first objective is to strengthen young people’s personal and social competences that are essential in youth work: self-confidence, self-reflection, the ability to express opinions, setting healthy boundaries, and cooperating within a group. We will achieve this through non-formal methods (experiential workshops, games, group reflection), where young people learn through situations and peer feedback rather than “lectures.” A special focus will be on authentic communication—how to be present, speak honestly, and listen to others without using the phone as a “safe point.” The second objective is to develop critical thinking and media literacy in the context of today’s digital environment. Young people will not only receive warnings; they will understand how algorithms work, why certain content affects mood, how to recognise manipulation, misinformation, and misleading AI-generated content, and how to make responsible choices about what they share, follow, and trust. This directly connects to youth work, because young people need tools for safer participation in society and for responsible civic engagement. The third objective is to improve well-being and empower young people to cope with everyday challenges. Within the activities, participants will explore and test techniques that support them when they feel stressed, restless, or overwhelmed (e.g., relaxation methods, calming strategies, creative and movement-based activities). The key is that young people learn to stay with a situation and work through it, instead of automatically escaping into another “world.” For this reason, part of the programme will also focus on identifying personal triggers and developing individual coping strategies. The fourth objective is to ensure transfer into everyday life and create measurable changes in habits. At the start and at the end of the exchange, participants will complete a short “before–after” self-assessment (knowledge, well-being, confidence in face-to-face communication, and boundary setting). In addition, we will use an app to track phone and app usage, so we can follow whether phone use decreases for the majority of participants during the exchange and afterwards as well. We will record these data together with participants in shared documents to better assess longer-term impact. The fifth objective is to strengthen youth organisations and international cooperation. KŠK and partner organisations will jointly develop and test methods that can later be used at home: workshop formats, approaches for creating a safe and inclusive environment, ways of facilitating groups, and practices for connecting with the local community. Through the project, young people will experience European cooperation and diversity, and strengthen the sense that they have a voice and a role in shaping a healthier digital environment within their communities.

Project partners (5)