Results

The overall results of the project include innovation in training methodologies and tools, especially e- learning methods and virtual cooperation, including those digital tools that support the upgrading of existing practices in youth work. It will contribute to the literature in this area by exploring how social media are not only shaping social movements, and advocacy but also changing how activists and SMOs interact with each other. The educational methodology will cover a broad terrain ranging from analyses of knowledge transfer between grassroots activists via social media to large SMOs. The project platform “YLE” will introduce new ways of involving youngsters in democratic life by showing them the right

mechanism for how to express their opinion and voices through the power of social media and the internet. The platform will include open-source tools for building an online community, and for targeting and influencing audiences for social and behavioural change. With the advancement of technology, young people will be harnessing new opportunities to make their voices heard and participate in public life through alternative means such as online forums, mobile phone texting, e-democracy and social media.

Project result No.1: Handbook: Wielding the power of social media for social change
The development of the “Wielding the power of social media for social change” will integrate new media into the practices of teachers and youth mentors to fill the gaps that occur within the home and school in supporting young people to understand technology, the importance of social media activism and engaging young people as active citizens. The final product of this result will help both, youngsters and educators (youth workers, youth mentors) with new training and learning methodologies in order to be able to utilize an online setting to conduct their work with online activism and participation. The guideline will include a set of ICT tools and skills that are important for the daily engagement of youngsters on SM (online safety, social networks for reaching out to other peers, tools for online cooperation, online counselling, open educational resources etc.) and offers youth workers an online platform for their development.

Project result No.2: Youth-Led Activism, Digital Platform
The platform will include open-source tools for building an online community, targeting and influencing audiences for social and behavioural change, creating and measuring real impact, increasing engagement, monitoring privacy, maintaining interaction, building a brand, and highlighting examples and best practices on how social media has helped increase participation. With the advancement of technology, young people will be harnessing new opportunities to make their voices heard and participate in public life through alternative means such as online forums, mobile phone texting, e- democracy and social media. It will create a space for young people to come together and articulate their concerns and develop their ideas for addressing the problems they are facing.

Project result No.3: 4 YLA campaigns
We will launch 4 youth campaigns - a European-wide collaborative effort aiming to recognize young people for their efforts, empower more young people to make a difference, and give young people opportunities to shape their future.
Meetings and training:
  • Digital citizenship - Youth Training - May 2024, Shtip – North Macedonia
  • Youth for Change and Action – Events during the Youth Day 2024
  • Network & Grow event – November 2024
  • The final Conference – Varna, Bulgaria 2024