International Academy on Citizen Journalism for Youth

During the second week of September 2023 the Citizen Journalism Academy for youth leaders took place in Sofia, Bulgaria. 33 active young people were gathered to learn about media literacy with the goal of promoting community engagement.

This academy’s main purpose was to educate young people in citizen journalism and new media technologies by presenting innovative tools and practices. This allowed participants to develop critical thinking and communicative skills to adopt a participatory attitude towards the reality they face in their countries. In addition, this event gave the perfect possibility for cultural exchange and networking between the different partner organizations and their participants, providing knowledge about the reality and challenges faced in different parts of Europe, Northern Africa and Middle East. It is important to mention that most of the participants already occupy an important social role within their communities in dimensions such as politics, law, journalism or technology, ensuring that the knowledge acquired during the project will reach and benefit the local populations. All the academy members were granted a formal diploma that states their participation in an Erasmus+ Programme and the knowledge acquired. This collaborative effort under the JOUR-YOU project holds the promise of making a meaningful impact in addressing contemporary societal challenges.