Regional camp brought together over 40 young people aged 15-19 from Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, USA and North Macedonia for a comprehensive experience in digital knowledge and volunteer project management. To deepen digital knowledge among the youth part of the camp activities were also special guests such as: Legendary investigative journalist Mrs. Life Jarra, Mrs. Albulena Sadiku Deputy Director. Mr. Kreshnik Gashi managing editor and Mrs. Elena Stojanovska, project manager of the Balkan Investigative Network (BIRN) and Kallxo.com. Bright minds shared their experience and expertise about fake news, hate speech and data protection on social media, creating a safe and curious space for young people. After informative and interesting sessions, the young people conceived these knowledge in voluntary projects that they will implement in their countries. Many projects and work were realized during the 7 days of the camp.
In the period from July 25 to 31, 2023, within the framework of the project “Giving and receiving – young active citizens for peace and prosperity”, a seven-day summer youth SMART camp was held.
The participants of the camp were young people from 6 Western Balkans countries (Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia) and Iowa (USA), a total of 42 participants aged 15 to 19.
The camp was hosted by the project’s partner organization, Organizata Kosovare për Talent dhe Arsim (TOKA), Kosovo.
During the seven-day camp, young people had the opportunity to learn about project management through the Service-Learning methodology.
As a result of the study, a total of 5 conceptual projects were created in the field of media literacy on the “Fake news” topic, which the young people will further elaborate upon returning to their countries and implement at the national level in the period from November 2023 to April 2024.
In parallel with the implementation of the aforementioned initiatives at the national level, a regional campaign will be implemented that will problematize the topics of media literacy and fake news.
“Until now, I haven’t had the opportunity to participate in trainings dealing with the topic of Service-Learning. During the sessions, I learned how to plan activities from the highest to the lowest level” – emphasized one of the camp participants.
The main topics during the camp were media literacy and the fight against fake news, which camp participants had the opportunity to learn from BIRN (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network) experts from Kosovo.
“I had some information from earlier, but after these lectures I will pay more attention to the protection of personal data on the Internet and the permissions that I normally give access to my data without thinking” – pointed out one of the participants of the camp.
