In April 2024, a group of dedicated youth workers gathered in Budapest, Hungary, for an Erasmus+ training titled “Digital Empowerment and Human Rights: Fostering Inclusive Communities through Technology.” The event was hosted by Copernicus Berlin and brought together participants from across Europe to explore the vital relationship between digital tools, human rights, and inclusion. The aim of the training was to strengthen youth workers’ digital skills while helping them understand how to use these tools to promote ethical digital advocacy, civic responsibility, and community-building. In today’s world, where technology touches every part of life, these skills are no longer optional—they are essential.
In Bulgaria, digital transformation has progressed steadily, but not all young people benefit from it equally. While internet access is widespread, digital literacy varies, and many young people lack critical knowledge about their rights and responsibilities online. In rural areas, access to technology is still limited, and young people in these regions often feel left behind. At the same time, digital spaces have become increasingly toxic for youth. Online bullying, hate speech, and misinformation have created fear and confusion among teenagers who are trying to find their identity and voice. Before the Budapest training, the NGO International Connection had already observed that many Bulgarian youth are passive users of digital media. They consume content but rarely participate in digital advocacy or community conversations. There was a growing concern that without support and guidance, this passivity could extend into their offline lives, reducing civic participation and weakening democratic values.
The Erasmus+ training in Budapest was a transformative experience for the youth worker from International Connection. The training offered hands-on workshops on how to use digital tools for promoting inclusion, storytelling, and human rights awareness. One of the most eye-opening sessions focused on privacy, data ethics, and the right to online safety. It helped participants see how fundamental rights extend into the digital world and how many young people unknowingly give away their data or expose themselves to risks. Another highlight was a collaborative project where international groups developed simple digital campaigns around human rights issues. The campaigns were creative, inclusive, and achievable—exactly the kind of project that could be replicated at the local level. A visit to a Budapest media lab further showed how technology, when used with purpose, can give marginalized youth a platform to tell their stories, express their culture, and challenge stereotypes.
Returning to Bulgaria, the youth worker felt inspired to act. The team at International Connection used the energy and ideas from the training to launch a new initiative called “Civic Click.” This project was designed to empower Bulgarian teenagers, especially in small towns and villages, to become more active online and offline citizens. The workshops began with practical lessons in digital literacy, showing young people how to protect their privacy, spot misinformation, and create ethical content. Then the focus shifted to civic engagement—helping youth understand how they could use social media to share ideas, support causes, and connect with others who care about similar issues.
The participants were invited to choose topics they cared about, such as climate change, gender equality, local corruption, or education reform. Using digital tools like Canva, mobile video apps, and podcast platforms, they created their own advocacy messages. Some students made short videos about unsafe school conditions and sent them to local officials. Others created infographics to explain young people’s voting rights. A few designed social media pages to promote youth clubs in their towns. In each case, the digital work helped the youth find their voice and understand that civic action doesn’t always start in government halls—it can begin with a post, a message, or a campaign shared among peers.
The impact of “Civic Click” quickly became visible. Youth who had never spoken in public began to lead group discussions. In one town, a group of teenagers launched a successful campaign for a safer pedestrian crossing near their school, and the local government responded by repainting the crosswalk and installing a traffic sign. Teachers who had hosted the workshops noticed that students became more curious about community issues and asked more questions in class. Parents appreciated that their children were not only learning how to use phones and laptops, but also learning how to use their minds and voices to create positive change.
The digital stories created during the workshops were shared at a regional youth forum organized by International Connection. Local mayors, school principals, and NGO representatives attended the event and saw the creativity and courage of the young participants. Some of the youth were later invited to join municipal youth councils or local advisory boards. The Bulgarian Ministry of Youth and Sports took notice of the project and asked for a meeting to explore how these digital civic engagement tools could be scaled to a national level. The story of “Civic Click” was later shared with other Erasmus+ partners and included in a publication on digital innovation in youth work.
The training in Budapest did not only bring knowledge—it created a sense of community. The youth worker from Bulgaria stayed in touch with other participants and exchanged resources, advice, and support. New ideas were already forming for a follow-up project that would connect youth from different European countries through a digital storytelling exchange. International Connection plans to involve more rural schools in the next round of “Civic Click” and build a digital hub where youth can upload, share, and discuss their ideas for local improvement.
Looking back, the biggest lesson from the Erasmus+ training is simple: empowerment starts with awareness. When youth understand their rights, their tools, and their potential, they begin to act. Technology, when used with purpose and guided by values, becomes a bridge between generations, communities, and voices. In Bulgaria, the digital world is becoming a new space for civic life, and thanks to international collaboration, young people are stepping into it with more courage, clarity, and compassion.
The future of civic engagement is not only about laws and policies—it is also about education, connection, and expression. With continued support from projects like Erasmus+, and with the dedication of youth workers who believe in inclusive digital empowerment, Bulgaria’s youth are ready to shape their future—click by click, voice by voice, and action by action.