Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in my first Erasmus+ project. This took place in Bansko, Bulgaria, from October 21 to 29, 2024. To provide some context, the European Union offers a wide range of programs such as volunteering, youth exchanges, and training courses that bring people from different European countries together to work and learn collaboratively. In my case, I participated in a training course on fake news, misinformation on social media, and how to protect and defend ourselves from it. These projects typically last a week and involve various activities focused on the main theme. It’s worth mentioning that these programs use non-formal education methods to make the learning process more engaging, emphasizing practical activities and discussions.
During this week, the activities we participated in included: first, introductory activities in the initial days to help participants get to know one another, share their experiences, discuss their countries, interests, and hobbies. For example, we took part in what was called “Socrates’ Walk.” Secondly, we engaged in many activities related to the main theme: debates and defining media literacy, “Big Brother” exercises, a video call with expert Stefan Markov, energizers, workshops, true/false questions, tools to detect fake news, and more. Thirdly, all projects include an “intercultural night,” where participants from different countries prepare traditional food and items from their countries to share with the rest of the group.
