Viral RIGHTS

The youth exchange Viral Rights united 30 young participants aged 16–20 from Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and the Republic of Moldova to explore the power and responsibility of being active digital citizens. Hosted in Izvoare, Romania, this seven-day program encouraged participants to become confident, informed, and responsible users of digital tools, capable of recognizing misinformation and defending democratic values in both online and offline spaces.

In a time when fake news, online hate, and digital manipulation are on the rise, Viral Rights offered a safe, creative, and inclusive space for young people to learn, question, and take action. Through interactive workshops, debates, theatre, simulations, and campaign design, participants built critical thinking, public speaking, and leadership skills while discovering how to use media responsibly and promote positive change in their communities.

Objectives of the project

• Promote active digital citizenship: Empower participants to engage responsibly in the online world, understanding their rights and the importance of ethical digital behavior.

• Develop media literacy and critical thinking: Equip youth with tools to identify fake news, propaganda, and hate speech, fostering a culture of truth and inclusion.

• Encourage civic participation and European values: Strengthen participants’ understanding of human rights, rule of law, and democracy, connecting them with European principles of freedom and equality.

• Build leadership and communication skills: Support young people in improving public speaking, teamwork, and intercultural dialogue through non-formal learning.

• Inspire creativity and advocacy: Guide participants to design and present their own digital campaigns promoting diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility.

Throughout the week, participants embarked on an interactive journey through communication, critical reflection, and creativity — exploring what it means to be a responsible digital citizen in the 21st century.

The exchange began with team-building and ice-breaking sessions like Guess My Name, Two Truths and a Lie, and The Communication Tree, which created a foundation of trust and openness among the multicultural group. Together, they built a Code of Conduct — their shared agreement for respect, inclusion, and cooperation throughout the project.

The following days deepened the learning experience with workshops on Youthpass, Erasmus+ opportunities, and human rights, helping participants connect their learning to the eight key competences. Through the session Our Voice, Our Europe, they discussed freedom of speech, inclusion, and fake news, sharing their personal views and developing collective solutions for a more just digital world.

Creative expression came to life during The Power Play theatre workshop, where participants acted out real-life scenarios tackling issues like cyberbullying, propaganda, and hate speech. This session helped them develop empathy, critical thinking, and confidence while exploring the tension between freedom of speech and respect online.

In the middle of the week, participants focused on media influence and persuasive communication. In Spotting Persuasion and Digital Safety & Healthy Choices, they learned to recognize manipulation, emotional targeting, and misinformation, while reflecting on digital wellbeing and healthy lifestyle habits. The Youth Parliament simulation gave them a hands-on experience of democratic participation, where they debated social issues, drafted proposals, and voted on resolutions—strengthening their leadership, argumentation, and teamwork skills.

As the project progressed, activities like Rule of Law in Action encouraged participants to analyze real-world case studies on justice and accountability, connecting global issues to their everyday lives. Later, they explored media literacy and leadership in Principles of Media Literacy – Leading in a Digital World, gaining practical skills to evaluate online content and counter misinformation.

The highlight of the exchange was the group project Digital Voices: Media Literacy in Action, where participants designed and presented their own awareness campaigns. These initiatives focused on promoting digital safety, inclusion, and truth online—combining creativity, teamwork, and advocacy. Each group presented their campaign ideas through posters, videos, and interactive discussions, receiving feedback from their peers.

The final day focused on reflection, dissemination, and celebration. Participants completed their Youthpass Certificates, shared key takeaways during the Reflection Time and Final Evaluation, and celebrated friendships during the Secret Friend Reveal and farewell evening.

By the end of the project, participants had strengthened their media literacy, leadership, and communication skills. They left with a deeper understanding of human rights, digital ethics, and civic engagement—and the confidence to become ambassadors of truth, inclusion, and democracy in their local communities.

Photo Gallery

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Activity Video