The programme
A non-formal education programme in digital active citizenship, media literacy and video counter-narratives.
The Videoactivism Academy gives young people aged 18 to 30 the knowledge, skills and competences for active, responsible and creative participation in digital spaces. It focuses on digital active citizenship, media literacy, and the ability to create positive digital counter-narratives against hate speech, social polarisation, disinformation and exclusionary narratives.
Participants get to know European values, forms of civic participation, and methods of critical and activist online communication, along with practical tools for creating content. The emphasis is on social media content, especially vertical video, and on messages that promote democracy, the rule of law, inclusion, diversity, solidarity and sustainability.
The methodology combines non-formal education, experiential learning, project work, collaborative learning and mentoring.
- Phase 1 · 4 days, in personBoot Camp
- Phase 2 · 6 months, onlineMentoring
- Phase 3 · 1 day, in personClosing event
- ✓Youthpass
Objectives
- Encourage and empower young people to act actively and responsibly in the digital space
- Develop civic, social, digital and media competences, and connect young people with peers, mentors, influencers and civil society organisations from different contexts
- Introduce European values: democracy, the rule of law, human rights, inclusion, diversity, solidarity and sustainability
- Equip young people to recognise and respond to hate speech, polarisation, extremist narratives and disinformation through fact-checking, prebunking and responsible communication
- Develop practical skills in filming, video editing and sound editing for social media
- Encourage creative expression, public advocacy and further civic engagement
Who it is for
Young people aged 18 to 30 from Croatia and Slovenia who are already making, or want to make, socially critical, civic and activist digital content. That includes people active in NGOs, civic initiatives, informal, student or youth activist groups, and people with no previous experience who want to get involved.
Participants are selected through a public call. We especially welcome young people from rural areas, with different educational backgrounds, of different gender identities and sexual orientations, LGBTQIA+ young people, members of minorities and young people with fewer opportunities.
The programme, or parts of it, can also be adapted for school classes, existing youth groups or groups from a single country.
Learning outcomes
Eight things participants can do by the end, and how we get there.
01Explain the concept of digital active citizenship
- Content
- Active citizenship; digital citizenship; online and offline participation; the role of young people and civil society in a democracy
- Methods
- Workshop; guided discovery; discussion; work on examples; group work
- Evaluation
- Oral reflection; self-evaluation
02Explain fundamental European values
- Content
- Democracy; rule of law; human rights; inclusion; diversity; solidarity; sustainability
- Methods
- Interactive lecture; group work; case analysis; discussion
- Evaluation
- Quiz; group presentation; self-assessment of understanding
03Recognise hate speech, polarisation and negative digital narratives
- Content
- Hate speech; polarisation; extremist and populist narratives; online radicalisation; social network dynamics
- Methods
- Analysis of social media examples; guided discussion; group work; narrative mapping
- Evaluation
- Case analysis; group presentation; mentor comments
04Distinguish narratives, counter-narratives and positive alternative narratives
- Content
- Digital narratives; counter-narratives; positive narratives; socially responsible communication
- Methods
- Workshop; analysis of good practices; work on examples; group work
- Evaluation
- A developed counter-narrative; group feedback
05Explain and apply prebunking
- Content
- Manipulative patterns; preventive exposure of disinformation; prebunking messages
- Methods
- Work on examples; guided discovery; practical task; discussion
- Evaluation
- A developed prebunking message; mentor feedback
06Shape a clear, inclusive, audience-adapted counter-narrative
- Content
- Target audience; key message; tone; storytelling; humour; emotions; argumentation; call to action; topic and problem; objective; format; script; publishing plan
- Methods
- Brainstorming; workshop; pair work; campaign analysis; peer feedback; mentored individual and group work
- Evaluation
- Message outline; content concept; idea presentation; group and mentor feedback
07Record and edit basic video and audiovisual content
- Content
- Vertical video; framing; lighting; sound; basic editing; subtitles; rhythm; adapting to platforms
- Methods
- Practical workshop; demonstration; work with equipment; individual and group work
- Evaluation
- A trial piece of content; technical and content feedback
08Assess your own development and competences
- Content
- Self-assessment; the Youthpass process; a personal plan for further engagement; reflection on learning
- Methods
- Reflective conversation; evaluation questionnaire; individual self-assessment
- Evaluation
- Youthpass reflection; final self-evaluation; evaluation questionnaire
What makes it different
Mentors from both countries
Two mentors from Slovenia bring digital communication, media literacy and content development. Two from Croatia bring youth work, non-formal education and civic competences.
Influencers as guest lecturers
Two creators who run large public pages with counter-narratives and satirical commentary share how activist communication, audience building and authentic expression work in practice.
Intensive + long-term
A 4-day Boot Camp for the basics, then 6 months of mentoring for depth, continuity and actually producing content. It ends in independent action, not only education.
A Discord community
Post drafts, get comments from mentors and peers, improve your work and publish it.
DIY over budget
Vlogs, podcasts, explainers, live streams, satire, vox pop… Relevant communication needs a clear message, creativity, authenticity and responsibility, not expensive production.
Inclusive by design
Inclusive language, subtitles, accessible formats and responsible representation of different social groups.
Timeline
- Promotion, applications and inclusive selectionBefore the Boot Camp
- Videoactivism Academy Boot Camp4 days
- Online mentoring meetingsAbout once a month
- Work on your own content between meetingsContinuously over 6 months
- Guest lectures and exchange of good practicesDuring Boot Camp and mentoring
- Publishing content and collecting feedbackDuring mentoring
- Final reflection and YouthpassAt the end of mentoring
Teaching materials
- Boot Camp and mentoring curriculumDocument
- Workshop plans for thematic modulesLesson plans
- Presentations for thematic modulesPresentations
- Worksheet for analysing narratives, message design and counter-narrativesWorksheet
- Good practices in digital activismVideos / case studies
- Basic vertical video and sound editingShort guide / video
- Online mentoring platformDiscord
- Evaluation questionnairesOnline forms
- Self-reflection and Youthpass formsForms
Evaluation
During the Boot Camp, facilitators run a short oral reflection after each module on the content, methods, understanding, group work and usefulness. At the end, everyone fills in a questionnaire on organisation, mentors, group dynamics, methods and content, including a self-assessment of their skills.
During the six months of mentoring, evaluation is continuous: self-reflection, mentor feedback and peer comments on Discord. Mentors follow involvement, content quality, growing independence and readiness for further engagement, and adapt the mentoring when needed.
At the end comes a final evaluation and the Youthpass process, in which participants recognise, name and document their competences. All feedback is used to improve the curriculum, lesson plans and materials for future editions.
Interested in the programme?
Run it on your own, or bring in the people who made it.