The voice of youth

<< Background >>We applied for this project because we saw a need in our youth center, especially from our experience with the youth newspaper. For over three years, young people have been running this newspaper with the help of a youth worker and a media specialist. But when the specialist left, it became tough to find someone who could guide them consistently. Hiring professionals was not mostly possible, and with the group changing so often, many young people missed out on the chance to develop new skills.That’s when we thought about creating an online course platform. This would give young people an easy and affordable way to learn about media, journalism, and critical thinking whenever it suited them. It’s not just about skills—it’s about giving them the tools to express their opinions, be heard in their communities, and even connect better with older generations. Sharing their perspectives can help build more understanding and cooperation between age groups.The project also supports what we and our partners aim to do—help young people become more active citizens, improve their media literacy, and gain valuable experience they can use in their future careers. We want to give them a positive way to leave t<< Objectives >>The main goal of the project was to create an online platform with 12 courses to help young people improve their media literacy and develop skills for journalism, whether they’re publishing a newspaper, a blog, or just want to express themselves more effectively. We wanted to give them tools to think critically, share their opinions confidently, and get involved in discussions that matter to their communities.Through these courses, we aimed to help young people become more active participants in their local and wider communities, making their voices heard on important issues. We also hoped to bridge the gap between generations by encouraging conversations and understanding through the content they create.Ultimately, we wanted the project to empower young people, give them confidence in their abilities, and create opportunities for them to be taken seriously in decision-making and public discussions. By providing free, accessible resources, we aimed to inspire more young people to use media as a platform for change.<< Implementation >>Kickoff Meeting: We started with a face-to-face meeting in Estonia to get everyone on the same page. We introduced the youth newspaper team who inspired this project, discussed course topics, assigned tasks, and finalized plans with our partners. Introduction of youth work practices (In Keila youth centre)Mid-Evaluation: Halfway through the project, we met in Ireland to review the first versions of the course materials. Young people from each partner country tested the content and shared feedback to help us improve it. Learning about youth work in Ireland (Visiting Bradog Regional Youth Service), learning about the history of Dublin and Ireland. Content Creation: This included videos, reading materials, worksheets, and self-evaluation. Platform Development: We built and tested the online platform where the courses would live. This included designing the website, uploading content, and ensuring everything worked smoothly.Final Meeting: We wrapped up the project with a meeting in Hungary to analyze the results, gather feedback from partners and getting to know youth work in HUngary (Visiting Lehetosegek tere youth centre)<< Results >>The main result of our project was the creation of a free online platform featuring 12 courses designed to improve young people’s media literacy and journalism skills. These courses include videos, reading materials, worksheets, and self-evaluation tool, all available in three languages: English, Estonian, and Hungarian. The platform is user-friendly and accessible to anyone interested in learning, whether they’re publishing a newspaper, blog, or simply want to express themselves better.Other results include: Improved Skills and Knowledge. Young people who participated gained valuable skills in media literacy, critical thinking, and content creation. This helped them feel more confident and credible in expressing their opinions.Youth Empowerment. Participants learned how to make their voices heard on topics important to them, which encouraged more active participation in their school.Strengthened Partnerships. The collaboration between partners, from Estonia, Hungary, and Ireland provided new opportunities to share knowledge and practices in youth work. Representative of the organisations as well as young people learned about youth work in 3 different countries, the services and opportunities.