Bridging Voices—Media Literacy, Community Dialogue & Youth Participation

In an era of polarization and information overload, youth workers gathered in Tbilisi to acquire practical tools that enabled young people to think critically, engage in dialogue, and participate actively in community life. The vibrant civic scene of Tbilisi provided an ideal backdrop for blending media and information literacy (MIL), dialogue facilitation, and youth participation.

Participants engaged in hands-on activities, focusing on verification techniques, bias awareness, and countering hate speech while developing skills in active listening and empathy mapping. They co-designed youth-led initiatives aimed at fostering community involvement. By the end of the week, teams left with feasible plans for mini-projects, ready-to-use toolkits, and enhanced competences in facilitation, ethical communication, and advocacy. These new skills and partnerships positioned them to effectively support under-represented youth in civic processes back in their own communities.