SSCW

07/06/2026

Nordic Youth Media Lab: Building Media Literacy and Democratic Resilience Among Youth

From March to June 2026, the Nordic Youth Media Lab project delivered four international online training workshops that equipped young people with practical skills in media literacy, information resilience, civic participation, and digital communication.

Supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers and Nordic Culture Point, the programme brought together youth, students, youth workers, and young leaders from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia. Participants learned how to navigate today's complex information environment, recognize manipulation, strengthen critical thinking, and communicate effectively online.

Training Highlights

27 March 2026 – From Theory to Operational Defense: Master Information Resilience

The first workshop focused on understanding disinformation, identifying manipulation techniques, and developing practical verification skills. Through interactive exercises and a live simulation, participants learned how information attacks operate and how to respond effectively.

30 April 2026 – AI-Driven Information Warfare: Disinformation and Youth Cognitive Resilience

Participants explored how artificial intelligence is transforming the information landscape through deepfakes, bots, fake news, and emotional manipulation. The training combined media literacy with psychological self-defense, helping young people strengthen cognitive resilience and fact-checking skills.

20 May 2026 – Building Democratic Resilience through Media Literacy and Civic Education

Led by journalist and media expert Leif Lonsmann, this workshop examined the relationship between media, democracy, and civic participation. Participants analyzed real-life examples of disinformation, online polarization, and AI-generated content while learning how to protect democratic values through informed engagement.

5 June 2026 – Youth & Social Media Branding through Media Literacy and Digital Engagement

The final workshop, led by Michael G. Kavuklis, focused on personal branding, social media strategy, audience engagement, and responsible use of AI in digital communication. Participants gained practical tools for creating authentic content and building a credible online presence.

The programme was enriched by the expertise of Vassili Golikov, German Morris, Leif Lonsmann, Anneli Ohvril, Katrin Villima-Otsing, Michael G. Kavuklis, Anne Marie B***e, and Anneli Ahonen, who shared valuable insights from journalism, education, media, and civic engagement.

Youth Reflections
"The workshop on AI and disinformation was eye-opening. I learned practical tools that I can use every day to verify information and avoid being manipulated by misleading content."
"The social media branding training helped me see that building an online presence is not about getting followers, but about creating trust and sharing meaningful content."
"I especially liked the interactive exercises and discussions with participants from different countries. It was interesting to see that we face many of the same challenges across the Nordic-Baltic region."

Through these four workshops, Nordic Youth Media Lab helped strengthen a new generation of informed, resilient, and engaged young citizens who are better prepared to navigate the opportunities and challenges of the digital age. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Nordic Culture Point, the Nordic Council of Ministers and Nordisk Journalistcenter for their valuable support.

05/06/2026

On 5 June, an engaging training session on Media Marketing and Social Media Branding was held, led by Michael G. Kavuklis.

During the training, participants explored personal branding, social media strategies, audience engagement, content creation, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in digital communication. The session provided practical insights into how to build an authentic online presence, create impactful content, and use modern digital tools to increase visibility and reach.

A big thank you to Michael G. Kavuklis for sharing his expertise and inspiring participants to strengthen their digital and communication skills!

04/06/2026

Täna algas meie kauaoodatud koolitus
“III Õppemoodul - Desinformatsioon, propaganda ja infovõitlus”. Koolitusel osalejad saavad süvitsi uurida desinformatsiooni ja propaganda olemust ning õppida, kuidas need mõjutavad meie kaasaegset infokeskkonda.
Koolitust viivad läbi kaks ekspertkoolitajat:
Maia Klaassen – Tartu Ülikooli Sotsiaalteaduste Instituudi meediapädevuse nooremteadur ja Balti EDMO keskuse BECID koordinaator, ning
Varvara Kuznetsvova – ERR Raadio 4 peatoimetaja ja ajakirjanik.
Koolituse jooksul käsitleme järgmisi teemasid:
- Propagandanarratiivide analüüs
- Infovõitluse juhtumiuuringud, sealhulgas Eesti ja rahvusvahelised kontekstid
- Mõjutusvõtted ja infooperatsioonide tüübid
- Praktikaharjutused meediasisu analüüsimiseks

Osalejad saavad praktilisi teadmisi, kuidas tuvastada valeinformatsiooni ja mõista infovõitluse mehhanisme. Meie eesmärk on arendada osalejate oskusi kriitiliselt analüüsida meediasisu ja kasutada tööriistu info kontrollimiseks.

01/06/2026

HEAD LASTEKAITSEPÄEVA! koos Lastekaitse Liit

Iga laps väärib armastust, hoolt, turvalisust ja võimalust oma unistusi ellu viia.
Täname kõiki, kes iga päev panustavad laste ja noorte heaolusse ning arengusse.
Koos loome hoolivama, turvalisema ja lapsesõbralikuma ühiskonna!

Irina Golikova, asutaja, tegevjuht, ema ja vanaema.
Sillamäe Lastekaitse Ühing🥰🥰🥰

29/05/2026

Short summaries of the program "Towards Sustainable Food Systems: Nordic and Baltic Cooperation for a Greener Future 2025"

In 2025, the international project "Towards Sustainable Food Systems - A Nordic and Baltic Civil Society Approach" was held, which successfully brought together civil society organizations, youth, educators, experts and community leaders from all over the Nordic and Baltics region to raise awareness of sustainable food systems, healthy lifestyles and a sense of responsibility. from consumption.

The project was implemented in cooperation with the organizations Green Habito RY (Finland), UngOrg (Norway), Compass (Denmark), Möllans Basement (Sweden), PEPP (Iceland), Talent City (Latvia) and Sillamäe Child Protection Association (Estonia) and the project was supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The project focused on environmental, social and economic sustainability by promoting sustainable food production, food waste reduction, circular economy principles, healthy eating and community green initiatives. Special attention was given to empowering youth and civil society organizations as active sustainable lifestyles and green change leaders in their communities.

The program included international trainings, study trips, expert meetings, workshops, conferences and practical activities in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia. More than 261 people from the Nordic and Baltic countries participated in the project's activities, including youth, teachers, representatives of free societies, sustainable development experts and community leaders.

The project will take place in 2025. in May, with an international webinar and partner meeting, discussing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Nordic Vision 2030 principles and human rights-based approaches to sustainable food systems. 30 people from different Nordic and Baltic countries attended the virtual meeting.

The first international training was held in 2025. in June in Helsinki and Vantaa in Finland and the focus was on sustainable food systems, healthy lifestyles, Nordic food culture and environmentally conscious consumption. Experts from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Estonia shared their experiences on school food, sustainable gardening, food waste reduction and community awareness. During the course, the development of a practical international manual "Towards Sustainable Food Systems: A Guidebook for CSOs, Youth and Educators" also began.

in August, the participants gathered in Malmöö and Lundi Sweden for a training and study trip that focused on sustainable food systems, green consumption and climate-conscious food policies. Participants visited universities, sustainable food initiatives, and agroecology farms and learned about responsible consumption, transitioning to plant food, reducing food waste, and organizing eco-friendly events.
in November of the year, an international expert meeting "Sustainable Food Transition" took place at Aalborg University and the organization Folkvirke in Denmark. International experts discussed sustainable food policies, healthy school food systems, youth engagement and community participation in green transition processes. Among the keynote speakers were Professor Michael Søgaard Jørgensen (University of Aalborg), Professor Bent Mikkelsen (University of Lund) and Assistant Professor Beatriz de Oliveira Teixeira (University of Porto). The meeting also focused on the development of the digital guide "Digital Guidebook on Sustainable Food Transition" and planning future Nordic and Baltic cooperation initiatives.

One of the most important final events of the program was 1. –2. Nordic-Baltic Sustainability Conference 2025 TransformTransforming Nordic Sustainable Food Systems through Policy Change and Cooperation“ held in Tallinn on December 2025 The conference took place as a joint event together with the annual All-Estonian Youth Forum and brought together young people, experts, educators, civil society organizations and partner institutions from all over the Nordic and Baltic regions. 143 people attended the event, including international participants from Estonia 🇪🇪, Finland 🇫🇮, Sweden 🇸🇪, Denmark 🇩🇰, Norway 🇳🇴, Iceland 🇮🇸 and Latvia 🇱🇻. Sustainable food systems, responsible consumption, climate adaptation, food waste reduction, environmental education and community engagement were discussed at the conference. The program included keynote presentations, workshops, panel discussions and practical sessions aimed at strengthening Nordic and Baltic cooperation and supporting sustainable development.

As an additional final activity, there was 3. –4. December 2025 Narva Nordic-Baltic Young Chef Competition-Award. The competition promoted sustainable food culture, responsible consumption and the use of local and seasonal ingredients among young people. International teams from Estonia, Latvia and Nordic countries prepared durable three-course menus and shared their experiences in the field of environmentally conscious cooking and food culture. The first place was achieved by the Estonian team, the second place was the Nordic combined team and the third place was won by the Latvian team.

The project had a strong social and communal impact. Cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic civil society organizations strengthened, awareness of sustainable lifestyles and environmental responsibility increased, and young people were encouraged to participate more actively in sustainable development and green turnover initiatives. One of the most important results of the project was the creation of the international cooperation network "Green Habito", which will continue to promote sustainable development and community cooperation in the future.

NB!!! Are you ready to contribute to a greener future?
The sustainable food program run by the Sillamäe Child Protection Society (SSCW) is also waiting for participants in 2026. in the year! Come and gain practical knowledge about sustainable food systems. Read more about the program here: food.sscw.ee/about-us/ Learn to live and eat sustainably! 🌍 Our popular program will continue with new courses and activities this 2026. in the year. Discover the possibilities and register now: food.sscw.ee/about-us/

28/05/2026

Nordic and Baltic food is a culinary journey through the flavours and traditions of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Estonia and Latvia. Known for its emphasis on fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients, Nordic cuisine has gained global recognition for its simplicity, innovative approaches, and rich cultural heritage.

The project was implemented in cooperation with 🇪🇪 🇫🇮 🇸🇪 🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇮🇸 🇱🇻 Green Habito Network and with support from the Nordic Council of Ministers.


🥳🥳🥳

28/05/2026

Towards Sustainable Food Systems: Nordic-Baltic Cooperation for a Greener Future (https://food.sscw.ee/)

The international project “Towards Sustainable Food Systems – the Nordic-Baltic Civil Society Approach” successfully brought together civil society organisations, youth representatives, educators, experts and community leaders from across the Nordic and Baltic region to strengthen awareness about sustainable food systems, healthy lifestyles and responsible consumption.

The project was implemented in cooperation with Green Habito RY (Finland), UngOrg (Norway), Compass (Denmark), Möllans Basement (Sweden), PEPP (Iceland), Talent City (Latvia) and Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare (Estonia), with support from the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The project focused on environmental, social and economic sustainability, promoting sustainable food production, reduction of food waste, circular economy principles, healthy nutrition and community-based green initiatives. Particular attention was given to empowering young people and civil society organisations as active promoters of sustainable lifestyles and green transition within their communities.

The programme included international trainings, study visits, expert meetings, workshops, conferences and practical activities across Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia. The project activities involved more than 261 participants from the Nordic and Baltic countries, including youth, educators, NGO representatives, sustainability experts and community leaders.

The project began with an international online seminar and partner meeting in May 2025, where participants discussed the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Nordic Vision 2030 and human-rights-based approaches to sustainable food systems. The virtual meeting gathered 30 participants from across the region.

The first international training took place in Helsinki and Vantaa, Finland, in June 2025 and focused on sustainable food systems, healthy lifestyles, Nordic food culture and environmentally responsible consumption. Experts from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Estonia shared experiences related to school nutrition, sustainable gardening, food waste reduction and community awareness. During the training, partners also started developing the practical international guidebook “Towards Sustainable Food Systems: A Guidebook for CSOs, Youth and Educators”.

In August 2025, participants gathered in Malmö and Lund, Sweden, for a training and study visit dedicated to sustainable food systems, green consumption and climate-smart food policies. Participants visited universities, sustainable food initiatives and agroecology farms while learning about responsible consumption, plant-based food transition, food waste reduction and environmentally friendly event organisation.

An international expert meeting “Sustainable Food Transition” was organised in November 2025 at Aalborg University and Folkevirke in Denmark. International experts discussed sustainable food policies, healthy school food systems, youth engagement and community participation in green transition processes. Keynote speakers included Professor Michael Søgaard Jørgensen (Aalborg University), Professor Bent Mikkelsen (Lund University) and Assistant Professor Beatriz de Oliveira Teixeira (University of Porto). The meeting also focused on developing the Digital Guidebook on Sustainable Food Transition and planning future Nordic-Baltic cooperation initiatives.

One of the major final events of the programme was the Nordic-Baltic Sustainability Conference 2025 “Transforming Nordic Sustainable Food Systems through Policy Change and Cooperation”, held in Tallinn, Estonia, on 1–2 December 2025. The conference was organised jointly with the annual Estonian National Youth Forum, bringing together young people, experts, educators, civil society organisations and partner institutions from across the Nordic-Baltic region. The event gathered 143 participants, including international participants from Estonia 🇪🇪, Finland 🇫🇮, Sweden 🇸🇪, Denmark 🇩🇰, Norway 🇳🇴, Iceland 🇮🇸 and Latvia 🇱🇻. Participants discussed sustainable food systems, responsible consumption, climate adaptation, food waste reduction, environmental education and community engagement. The conference included keynote speeches, workshops, panel discussions and practical sessions focused on strengthening Nordic-Baltic cooperation and promoting sustainable development.

As an additional final activity, the Nordic-Baltic Young Chef Competition-Award took place in Narva, Estonia, on 3–4 December 2025. The competition promoted sustainable food culture, responsible consumption and the use of local and seasonal ingredients among young people. International teams from Estonia, Latvia and the Nordic countries prepared sustainable three-course menus while sharing experiences related to environmentally friendly cooking and food culture. The Estonian team won first place, followed by the Nordic joint team and the Latvian team.

The project had a strong social and community impact. It strengthened cooperation between Nordic-Baltic civil society organisations, increased awareness about sustainable lifestyles and environmental responsibility, and encouraged young people to become more active in sustainability and green transition initiatives. One of the key outcomes of the project was the reinformcent of the international cooperation network “European Network “Green Habito”, which will continue promoting sustainable development and community-based cooperation in the future.

Project has been run in frame of SSCW Programm: Sustainability as a lifestyle, with support of Nordic Council of Ministers’ Grant Program for Nordic-Baltic NGO Cooperation 2026

20/05/2026

20 May 2026, young people, teachers and youth workers from the Nordic–Baltic region gathered online for the international training-workshop “Building Democratic Resilience through Media Literacy and Civic Education.” The event brought together 26 participants from Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia to discuss the growing impact of disinformation, propaganda and digital manipulation on democratic societies and youth.

The training was led by Leif Lonsmann — journalist, former CEO of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation and board member of the Nordic Journalist Center. During the seminar, participants explored how media narratives influence public opinion, how manipulative content spreads online, and why critical thinking and media literacy have become essential skills in today’s digital environment.

Special attention was given to current information and security challenges affecting the Nordic–Baltic region, including AI-generated content, emotional influence in social media, online polarization and the spread of misleading narratives during times of uncertainty and crisis. Through practical examples and case studies, participants learned how to recognize manipulation techniques, verify information sources and apply fact-checking tools in everyday online communication.

The workshop combined expert presentations, interactive discussions and practical group exercises. Participants worked in teams to analyse media cases, identify disinformation strategies and reflect on the role of youth in protecting democratic values and building resilient information environments within their communities.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Nordic Culture Point, the Nordic Council of Ministers and Nordisk Journalistcenter for their valuable support and for making the workshop possible.

14/05/2026

14. mail toimus Euroopa Liidu Majas Tallinnas praktiline II koolitus „Kriitiline meediatarbimine“ õppeprogrammi “Märka, kontrolli, vaidlusta” raames, mis tõi kokku õpetajad, koolijuhid ja vabaühenduste esindajad üle Eesti.

Päeva jooksul keskenduti sellele, kuidas tänapäevases infokeskkonnas teadlikult ja kriitiliselt meediasisusse suhtuda, kuidas ära tunda manipulatsiooni- ja desinformatsioonivõtteid ning milliseid praktilisi tööriistu kasutada allikate kontrollimiseks ja info hindamiseks.

Koolitajaks oli Tallinna Ülikooli BFM-i õppejõud Katrin Sigijane, kes viis läbi arutelusid, juhtumianalüüse ja praktilisi harjutusi. Osalejad said võimaluse analüüsida reaalseid meedianäiteid, töötada gruppides ning jagada oma kogemusi kriitilise mõtlemise arendamisel nii hariduses kui kogukonnatöös.

Koolituse eesmärk oli tugevdada meediapädevust ja toetada osalejaid oskustega, mida saab kohe rakendada nii õpetamises kui igapäevaelus. Päeva lõpetasid grupitööde esitlused ja ühine arutelu selle üle, kuidas aidata noortel paremini orienteeruda kiiresti muutuvas digitaalses infokeskkonnas.

Täname kõiki osalejaid aktiivse panuse ja sisukate arutelude eest!

Projekt on rahastatud Saksamaa Liitvabariigi saatkonna poolt Tallinnas.

21/01/2026

@подписчики

Dear SSCW friend,

We kindly ask for your help in answering important questions related to public education in the field of artificial intelligence. Completing the questionnaire will not take much time.

Survey in Estonian: https://forms.gle/WS93BgEpRrQuEYEi9
Survery in Russian: https://forms.gle/TPDYfWNC1MgqWrK36

(Deadline: 22 January 2026)

The aim of the AI Future project is to make learning about AI simple, practical, and accessible to everyone.

By completing this survey, you help us understand what adults actually need to learn about AI. This will support the development of a free training programme that teaches useful AI skills for everyday life. The programme is especially intended for people who feel insecure when using digital tools or wish to increase their confidence.

If you have any questions, please contact us at: [email protected]

All responses are confidential and will be used solely for the purposes of this project.

Thank you!

Цель проекта AI Future — сделать изучение искусственного интеллекта простым, практичным и доступным для всех. Заполняя эту анкету, вы помогаете нам понять, что взрослы...