Informed, Engaged, Prepared: Lessons Learned by Young People at the Media Youth School

Between June 23–27, 2025, the National Network of Local Youth Councils of Moldova, in partnership with People in Need Moldova, organized the Media Youth School — an initiative held as part of the “INSPIRĂ Moldova” project, funded by the European Union.

Over the course of five days, 20 young people from 14 localities across Moldova were trained in critical thinking through documentary film screenings and interactive workshops. They explored phenomena such as fake news, disinformation, manipulation, and propaganda, as well as methods to recognize and counter them.

“During this school, I learned how important it is to get information from reliable sources, how dangerous propaganda can be, and that sometimes we’re influenced without even realizing it. I also discovered credible news portals and useful tools to verify information,”

shared Ioana Bolea, one of the participants.

Another key component of the training was civic and electoral education. The youth discussed the right to vote, the responsibility of participating consciously in elections, and how to get involved in decision-making processes. They took part in media content creation sessions and produced their own motivational videos addressed to young voters.

“This school was essential for the development of critical thinking among young people, especially in the context of the information crisis Moldova is facing. Thanks to innovative methods like the OWIS methodology, the impact of these activities was much deeper,”

said Ion Leonte, trainer at the Media Youth School.

The event concluded with the launch of the “+1 Young Person Votes” campaign, aimed at mobilizing youth for the parliamentary elections in the fall of 2025, thus strengthening the culture of civic participation among the new generation.

The INSPIRE Moldova project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), the National Assistance and Information Center for NGOs in Moldova CONTACT, the Center for Policies and Reforms (CPR Moldova), Democracy Reporting International (DRI), and People in Need (PIN).