The main objective of the project is to improve media literacy and critical-thinking skills and to develop community journalism, blogging and content-creation competences. The project encourages its audience and local community representatives to become co-creators of media, to think critically about media content and their own media behaviour, and to engage with local media outlets through discussions on contemporary media. In this way, the project will strengthen and expand the critical-thinking platform, increase its audience and improve the quality of its content through the co-creation of material that is relevant and engaging for readers, viewers and local community members.
In addition, the programme aims to increase cooperation among civil society actors, strengthen the resilience of young people, older adults, teachers and members of civil society organisations against misinformation, and increase digital participation. Through training sessions, discussions, workshops, practical guidance and innovative digital solutions and tools, the programme will address disinformation and propaganda promoted by the Russian state or by populist narratives in Estonia. The project will also encourage community members to act as digital activists in countering disinformation and propaganda.
The target group includes active young people aged 16–30 from Ida-Viru County, Harju County and Tartu County, representing different nationalities and economic backgrounds, including young people with special needs and a predominantly Russian-speaking audience. Teachers, leaders, representatives of local authorities and communities from Harju County, including Tallinn, Maardu, Ida-Viru County and Tartu, will also be encouraged to participate.
The Tallinn target areas include all city districts, with particular emphasis on the City Centre, Mustamäe, Northern Tallinn, Õismäe and Lasnamäe. In Ida-Viru County, the project will involve participants from Lüganuse Municipality, Kohtla-Järve, Jõhvi, Sillamäe and Narva.
Approximately 80–90% of the project audience is expected to be Russian-speaking. The target groups also include people at risk of exclusion, such as persons with disabilities and young people facing structural, cultural and social barriers. Representatives of these groups are expected to make up approximately 5–10% of all participants. Up to 415 people will participate directly in the project.
Project Activities
Media Literacy and Community Resilience Summer School
22–24 August 2025, Toila Spa Hotel
The main objective of the Summer School is to increase the knowledge and skills of target-group representatives in the fields of media literacy, the green and digital transitions, civil society activism and resilience. It will promote discussion on how to strengthen the capacity and resilience of Estonian civil society and identify future challenges.
The Summer School will involve target-group representatives who already have basic media-literacy and other relevant skills and who are interested in deepening their knowledge of disinformation, propaganda, the use of artificial intelligence, digital activism and related topics.
The Summer School is based on three principles:
- Learn and empower
- Participate and discuss
- Contribute and create change
Participants will deepen their digital-activism, artificial-intelligence and critical-thinking skills. Teachers and community leaders will receive practical tools for countering disinformation and propaganda and for strengthening leadership and communication skills.
The programme will include a variety of activities:
- public discussions for teachers, parents, young people and experts;
- targeted training sessions on specific topics;
- practical workshops on digital tools and artificial intelligence;
- case studies;
- digital safety and communication workshops;
- workshops on the green transition and circular economy;
- sessions on organisational development and capacity-building;
- the development of new project ideas for 2025–2026.
These activities will offer different learning methods and strengthen joint efforts to build resilience and preparedness for cognitive warfare.
Parents will also be offered workshops and discussions on the topic “Positive parenting as the foundation of a child’s development and sense of security.”
The Summer School will also provide a space where target-group members and experts can cooperate, share experiences and exchange good practices.
Up to 100 people will participate.
The programme will be implemented in cooperation with content partners, including:
- Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media and Arts School;
- the University of Tartu;
- the newspaper Põhjarannik;
- Green Tiger;
- the Estonian Green Movement;
- Peace Child Estonia.
The Summer School is supported by the British Council, the Estonian Union for Child Welfare and the Just Transition Fund.
More information: https://meedia.sscw.ee/et/suvekool
Training Programme
30 August, Tallinn; 8 September, Tallinn; 27 September, Tartu; 17 October, Narva; 8 November, Toila
The aim of the “Media Literacy and Disinformation” training course is to integrate social and emotional learning with cognitive skills and academic knowledge. It will empower participants and prepare them to develop a more informed and responsible relationship with media and to understand how to address modern information warfare, particularly fake news, disinformation and other threats affecting everyday life.
The main objective of the training programme is to train target-group representatives on key topics and provide them with practical digital tools that they can use in their daily lives.
The programme also aims to improve participants’ media-literacy knowledge and skills, including:
- critical thinking;
- the ability to access and analyse media messages;
- content creation;
- reflection and responsible action;
- understanding the basics of disinformation and propaganda;
- practical methods for protecting communities;
- improving personal and community resilience.
The training will be delivered by a highly qualified expert and will consist of two parts:
- a knowledge and information component;
- a skills and practical component.
Topics of the “Media Literacy and Disinformation” training
- Harnessing the power of emotions and empathy
- Active participation
- Developing critical thinking
- A holistic learning experience
- Promoting civic initiative
- Transformative digital engagement
The training will include instruction on the use of digital tools, including:
- Google fact-checking tools;
- www.propastop.org;
- euvsdisinfo.eu/learn;
- Menti.com for questionnaires and feedback.
The programme will also include capacity-building in fact-checking, media literacy and digital safety.
This pilot training programme is designed to improve people’s media literacy, their ability to counter disinformation, and their resilience and preparedness for cognitive warfare. It provides an opportunity to support public efforts to protect people from manipulation while improving their knowledge, skills and practical experience in these important areas. Up to 150 people will participate.
Media and Information Literacy Conference-Hackathon 2025
5–6 December 2025, Toila
The main purpose of the conference-hackathon is to exchange constructive ideas, summarise project results and prepare joint statements.
Key decision-makers, stakeholders, community and media leaders, and active project participants will be invited.
The event will promote discussion on media and communication in the contemporary world, including:
- how to counter disinformation campaigns that destabilise society;
- artificial intelligence and freedom of expression;
- resilience and resistance in an era of information disruption.
The conference will provide constructive knowledge and skills concerning contemporary media and identify possible solutions that could work in society.
In addition to the concrete work already completed through the project, the conference will add a new dimension by including the perspectives of recognised experts.
Up to 100 people will participate.
Project Results
Project participants will exchange experiences with one another. Young people, adults, parents and other interested participants will have opportunities to apply their ideas and skills, participate in democratic society and strengthen their critical-thinking abilities.
The programme will improve participants’ knowledge and skills and support the continued development of modern media channels for Russian-speaking and Estonian-speaking communities and for society as a whole.
Participants will gain the necessary knowledge and skills in critical thinking. Their observation, analysis and research abilities will improve, and they will become more resilient to propaganda and disinformation. They will also strengthen their ability to draw conclusions and communicate with target groups.
As a result, participants will be better able to solve problems, evaluate situations, set concrete future goals and improve their decision-making.
Participants will be able to take part in face-to-face public discussions, express their views on current events, write analytical media content and contribute in the future as community journalists. They will also be encouraged to cooperate with local and regional newspapers and other media outlets.
Project participants will exchange experiences and gain practical experience by working with national and regional media organisations and other stakeholders. They will have opportunities to share their ideas and skills with representatives of public institutions and to act as mentors for colleagues and community members on issues related to participatory media, democracy and human rights. Knowledge of these areas and the ability to apply it are essential elements of a democratic society.
The programme includes the following main activities:
- the Media Literacy and Digital Activism Summer School, including training, public discussions, workshops, lectures and practical media work;
- five training sessions on countering propaganda and fake news and developing citizens’ digital activism;
- further development of the community-journalism and media-content co-creation platform;
- publication of articles, interviews and video reports in cooperation with media outlets and invited experts;
- a study visit;
- a roundtable discussion;
- an international media conference as the final event.
At the end of the programme, participants will complete a test confirming their theoretical and practical skills and will receive certificates.
The informal network of community journalists and specialists will be further developed, together with digital activism. This will support the creation of a sustainable ecosystem for democratic skills and democratic society, increase interest in independent media, and provide new perspectives on existing channels.
Independent media content created in cooperation with media outlets will be promoted among target-group representatives, who will communicate with stakeholders and with one another both directly and indirectly.
Participants will join an informal cooperation network contributing to social development and the development of free and independent media.
The relaunched media programme website:
meedia.sscw.ee
The project “Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Programme 2025” is implemented in cooperation with the British Council in Estonia under the People to People Cultural Engagement Programme, supporting social cohesion.