Description
The central idea of the project is designing a comprehensive on-line safety education and cyber aggression prevention programme for youth, educators and parents in the Lublin Province. The programme will be developed by experts from Poland and Norway, and then tested in a cycle workshops for several weeks for 5 groups of individuals aged 13-18 and a group of adults. Groups will be working using methods of informal education, social therapy and psychoeducation; young people will be offered one-to-one psychosocial counselling. Following the testing phase, participants will develop recommendations for improvements in the education programme and thus young people will become part of the design team. The education/prevention programme will be published in a booklet to be distributed to schools, institutions and youth organisations; it will also be broadly available online. The impact will be amplified by a series of workshops and meetings in schools in the Lublin Province.
Summary of project results
"Children and youth acquire digital skills much more quickly than other age groups (CBOS 2012). In 2013, over 90 per cent of students were Internet users. Since 2015, 95 per cent of households in the Lublin Province have obtained access to broadband networks. This means more people are online and more people do not understand the dynamics of the digital world. Young people claim to be aware of online risks but research conducted by the Foundation suggests that the awareness is limited to risks that are highlighted by media, i.e. sexual assault, pornography and demoralisation. Young people find it more challenging to appreciate risks related to harassment, hate speech and aggression. Nearly 70 per cent members of Youth Developemnt Groups supported by the Foundation have experienced cyber-violence and 40 per cent have been victimised. The project aimed at supporting youth experiencing online violence and delivering knowledge and education tools focused on combatting cyber-violence and helping victims. The project provided social and mental support to 64 young people aged 13-18 who directly or indirectly experienced online aggression. Moreover, project participants reduced the time they spent online by 20 per cent. During the project, youth attended workshops on online security. One-on-one psychosocial counseling was provided. Topical lectures were delivered and a conference was held; a publication was released about delivering education activities about secure, informed and responsible use of the Internet and containing a Safe Internet User Calendar. Project beneficiaries included youth aged 13-18 in middle and secondary schools in the Lublin Province. Experts seconded by the project partner, Møre og Romsdal Fylkeskommune from Norway, developed innovative tools and methods of online security education."
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership with an organisation from Norway was instrumental in developing a quality publication about a safe, informed and responsible use of the internet. Norwegian experts took part in a team effort to develop a LARP-based youth engagement module. The interaction helped exchange knowledge, experience and good practices and ensured mutual inspiration. LARP is not a popular approach to youth engagement and only a few enthusiasts know about it. However, it is a highly valuable method of addressing difficult issues and learning by doing while using your individual potential. This is the main benefit of the partnership.