Salerno, October 2022 – The coronavirus crisis did not only strain hospitals and economies. It unleashed another, more insidious wave across Europe: disinformation. From conspiracy theories about vaccines to manipulated videos and hate speech online, young people were often the first to encounter – and sometimes spread – misleading content. Recognising this urgent challenge, the Erasmus+ project “The pandemic of disinformation” brought together 29 participants from Germany, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, North Macedonia and Cyprus for an intensive training course in Salerno, Italy.
Organised by Migrafrica together with European partner organisations, the project aimed to strengthen youth workers’ capacity to recognise, analyse, and counteract fake news. Over eight days in October 2022, participants explored the anatomy of disinformation, practiced digital fact-checking, and developed tools to foster resilience among the young people they support.
The programme was both theoretical and practical. Sessions ranged from debates on freedom of expression versus regulation, to hands-on workshops on IT security, digital literacy, and the psychology of manipulation. In one highlight, participants staged a simulation of a breaking news cycle, deliberately injecting false claims into the process and testing how quickly teams could identify and correct them. Another workshop focused on “greenwashing” and the misuse of environmental language in advertising, linking the project’s themes to wider European debates.
“We realised that combating disinformation is not just about technology – it is about critical thinking, dialogue, and trust,” noted a youth worker from Portugal.
The intercultural dimension was just as important. Participants from different contexts shared how disinformation manifests locally – from vaccine hoaxes in rural areas to online radicalisation in urban settings. The exchange fostered a sense of solidarity: despite differences, the challenges were strikingly similar across Europe.
For the seven participants with fewer opportunities – including migrants and young people with limited access to education – the project provided a rare chance to gain digital skills in an inclusive and supportive environment. Migrafrica and its partners ensured that mentoring and reflection sessions created a safe learning space for all.
The impact is lasting. Beyond individual learning, the organisations involved established a cross-border network to continue cooperation on media literacy and digital youth work. Several participants committed to organising local workshops upon returning home, multiplying the project’s results.
At the conclusion, participants received Youthpass certificates, but the true achievement lay in the new confidence and commitment they carried back to their communities. In an era when fake news can spread faster than truth, The pandemic of disinformation showed how European cooperation can equip youth workers with the tools – and the determination – to defend facts, strengthen democracy, and build resilience from the ground up.
Report
The Pandemic of Disinformation – Europe’s Youth Workers Build Digital Resilience
By our correspondent Jeffray
Cagliari, September 2024 – In the age of social media, falsehoods spread faster than facts. The coronavirus pandemic made that painfully clear: conspiracy theories undermined public health, hate speech deepened divides, and online propaganda exploited fear. To counter this “infodemic,” 28 youth workers from seven countries came together in Sardinia for the Erasmus+ training course “The pandemic of disinformation”, coordinated by Migrafrica gGmbH in Cologne.
For one week, participants from Germany, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, North Macedonia, Cyprus and Croatia explored how to recognise, analyse, and combat online misinformation. The group was diverse: experienced youth workers, first-time Erasmus+ participants, IT specialists, and seven young people facing economic or cultural barriers, including migrants and refugees.
The programme combined non-formal learning with practical exercises. Workshops dissected the anatomy of fake news, while “world café” debates produced strategies for safer digital platforms. A digital simulation tasked teams with designing online youth work scenarios, testing how quickly misinformation could spread – and how it could be contained. A panel with IT experts provided concrete tools for fact-checking and online security. Intercultural nights and a city scavenger hunt anchored the digital focus in real human exchange.
The results were tangible. Participants strengthened their critical thinking, media literacy and communication skills. They learned to integrate digital safety into daily youth work, to mentor young people in recognising manipulation, and to adapt EU best practices to local realities. For organisations, the impact was structural: new curricula on media literacy, fact-checking workshops, and a culture of digital awareness are now being implemented across partner networks.
Crucially, the project’s inclusivity mattered. Refugees and economically disadvantaged youth workers received tailored support: mentoring, psychosocial counselling, and access to laptops and internet ensured equal participation. “This was the first time I felt not only included, but empowered to be part of the solution,” one participant from a migrant background reflected.
Dissemination reached well beyond the training room. Through blogs, Instagram campaigns, and local workshops, participants became multipliers. In some regions, media literacy “hubs” have been launched, pooling resources and extending the project’s reach. At European level, the initiative fed into the European Youth Work Agenda, proving that grassroots projects can shape continental debates.
The training also introduced participants to AI tools such as GPT (prompt-creating-for-TDI), demonstrating their potential in developing online safety strategies. What began as an experiment became an eye-opener: artificial intelligence, when used critically, can itself be an ally in defending truth.
At the closing ceremony in Cagliari, the group’s message was clear: youth work is frontline democracy work. “We return home not only with knowledge, but with the responsibility to defend facts against falsehoods,” they declared.
A Note of Thanks
From the participants:
“We thank Migrafrica for organising this life-changing project with such care and professionalism. And we extend our gratitude to the European Union and the Erasmus+ Programme for giving us the chance to meet, learn, and grow together. This project has equipped us with tools to fight disinformation and inspired us to carry this mission into our communities. Thank you for trusting us with Europe’s future.
