From 10 to 17 November, Europamente took part in the international training course “From Clicks to Critical Thinking. Mentoring the Next Generation of Digital Thinkers”, held in Bucharest and organised by Avatar Association. The project gathered participants from Italy, Spain, Hungary, Georgia, Türkiye and Ukraine for an immersive week dedicated to understanding how social media and artificial intelligence shape the way young people think, communicate and relate to the world.
The training combined group work, debates, creative labs and guided reflections. From the very first activities, the atmosphere was open and collaborative, allowing participants to build trust and share their experiences with the digital world. Discussions explored how platforms influence mental health, the spread of misinformation, and the subtle ways in which online environments can shape behaviours, expectations and public opinion.
As the week progressed, participants moved from reflection to creativity. Through practical workshops, they developed short theatrical performances addressing key digital challenges such as cyberbullying, fake news and social pressure on image-driven platforms. These activities encouraged teamwork and offered new ways to approach complex themes with empathy and critical distance.
Another key element of the course was the analysis of real-life cases related to harmful online behaviour and the circulation of misleading information. Working in groups, participants identified problems and drafted practical solutions, ranging from awareness campaigns to educational tools aimed at helping young people navigate the digital space more safely and consciously.
Towards the end of the programme, everyone had the opportunity to reflect individually on the insights gained throughout the week. This personal moment of synthesis prepared the ground for the final session, where each national group presented ideas for future initiatives—workshops, school activities, community events—to bring the training’s lessons back to their local contexts.
The course closed with a collective evaluation and renewed connections among all participants. Beyond learning, the week in Bucharest offered a valuable space for cooperation, cultural exchange and shared commitment to promoting more informed and responsible use of digital tools.
We are grateful to Avatar Association and to all partner organisations for this enriching experience, and we look forward to putting these ideas into practice in our upcoming activities.
Registered office
