TC It’s a fact
In November 2025, we sent our participants to the Erasmus+ training course It’s a FACT, held from 11 to 19 November in the peaceful town of Schaijk, the Netherlands. The project brought together young people and youth workers from Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Romania, Latvia, and Slovakia to focus on topic: media literacy and the fight against disinformation. Through non-formal education, interactive workshops, and international cooperation, the training aimed to strengthen critical thinking, improve understanding of how fake news spreads, and equip youth workers with practical tools to combat misinformation in their communities.
Our participants shared that the project was exceptionally well organised, with trainers who adapted to the group’s needs and created a welcoming, supportive learning environment. They especially appreciated the practical approach—working with real media posts, analysing manipulation techniques, and learning how confirmation bias, emotional targeting, and social media algorithms shape our perception of reality. Exploring the role of AI in producing and spreading fake news was another key insight that broadened their understanding of today’s digital challenges.
One of their favourite parts of the project was the creation of the “It’s a FACT Toolkit” which they created together. It contained practical procedures for verifying information, guides for media analysis, examples of real disinformation campaigns, and tasks that promote critical thinking. They also valued the opportunity to practice essential skills such as source verification, recognising emotional manipulation, evaluating platform credibility, and designing creative workshops they can now implement in their own youth work.
Viktória said:” What I found most engaging were the practical exercises aimed at identifying fake news and realizing that things are not always what they seem at first glance. We learned how to approach information critically, verify facts, and rely on credible sources. The trainers also introduced us to the psychological aspects of manipulation, such as confirmation bias and why people tend to believe information that reinforces their existing beliefs”
Jana added:” I would say the facilitators and Trainers were really kind overall and tried to fix and adjust everything we asked for. So, for the program and their work I can only say good things. I enjoyed working on tasks and workshops, the team and participants were ok.”
Daniel shared:” We return home with practical tools, new friendships from across Europe, and a clear motivation to apply the knowledge and skills we gained in our daily work with young people. At the same time, we became aware of the sources from which we receive information and how much these sources influence our opinions and decisions.”