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CyberSafety 101 for Youth: Blagoevgrad Workshop

Content

Following their participation in the “CyberSafe Youth: Protecting Digital Spaces and Empowering Communities” training course in Budapest, the Bulgarian national team from Mladezhda organized a local outreach session in the rural village of Banya. The event took place in the Cultural Center of the Town Hall and welcomed over 25 participants—young people aged 15–20, local residents, and youth workers from Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, and Spain.

Workshop Goals

  • Raise awareness of online disinformation and hate speech.

  • Promote critical thinking and fact-checking among youth.

  • Encourage intercultural exchange and local-international networking.

Key Activities

  • Group discussion on media manipulation and trust in digital content.

  • Survey: “How safe do you feel online?”

  • Interactive theatre piece titled Digital Drama performed by the youth.

  • Erasmus+ and DiscoverEU info session led by youth workers.

  • Networking invitation by international participants for future joint activities.

Participant Reflections

“This was the first time someone explained disinformation in a way that felt real. I shared it with my classmates the next day.”

Outputs
Participants received the booklet Cyber Tips for Teens, and discussions were initiated for ongoing collaborations around arts and sports. Locals requested more regular sessions in Banya, while international guests expressed interest in co-hosting activities to strengthen cultural ties and community engagement.