“Tavi draugi” launches a media literacy course series for young people, “Fact Compass”

The charity organisation “Tavi draugi” is implementing the educational course series “Fact Compass” for young people from August this year until November. Its aim is to strengthen the ability to critically evaluate information, recognise disinformation, and encourage young people to actively participate in creating and disseminating reliable, fact-based information.

During the project, young people up to the age of 30 who are already actively involved in non-governmental organisations of various communities or in the circulation of information will develop their media literacy skills and critical thinking over a period of four months. As part of the project, young people will also learn practical tools to help them navigate the flow of information, make informed decisions, and become responsible content creators in their communities.

“Fact Compass” focuses on disinformation as one of the most significant global challenges of today, affecting democracy, social cohesion, and trust in institutions. Its implementation will promote young people’s civic participation, media literacy, and ability to responsibly contribute to building a safer and more inclusive society. Participants will become information multipliers in their organisations and communities, passing on the knowledge they acquire to members, volunteers, and the wider public.

The course series includes sessions on media literacy, recognising disinformation and propaganda, fact-checking methods, the impact of social media algorithms on information consumption, critical thinking, digital communication, and creating fact-based content. Alongside theoretical knowledge, participants will work practically on developing their own information campaigns, which they will implement in their organisations and communities at the end of the project.

The project also promotes intercultural dialogue and cooperation by bringing together young people from different communities to jointly seek solutions for creating a higher-quality and safer information environment in Latvia. All “Fact Compass” lectures and sessions are free of charge, but places are limited, so those interested can still apply by filling out the form here: ej.uz/faktu-kompass.

In August, three open lectures will be held as part of the project in cooperation with Most Business School. They are open not only to “Fact Compass” participants but also to other interested people, who can register by emailing [email protected] by the day of the lecture. All lectures will take place on Wednesdays at 18:30 at the “Tavi draugi” Charity Shop, 32 Ģertrūdes Street, Riga.

Content of the open “Fact Compass” lectures:

• On 12 August, the lecture “The World of Disinformation: How It Works” will take place. The lecture will explore the concepts of disinformation, misinformation, and propaganda, the mechanisms and psychology behind the emergence and spread of disinformation, as well as the global context and current examples in Latvia’s information environment.
• On 19 August, the lecture “How to Recognise Manipulation: A Toolbox” will cover methods and fact-checking tools, as well as the emotional side of manipulation.
• On 27 August, the lecture “Disinformation Against My Community” will include a discussion on the impact of disinformation on communities’ perceptions, sense of security, mutual trust, and how disinformation affects different groups in different ways. Participants will jointly seek answers and possible solutions for the involvement of the NGO sector and activists.

The “Fact Compass” project is implemented by the charity organisation “Tavi draugi”. The project is funded under the European Commission’s DEAR programme with the support of the association LAPAS. This publication has been co-funded by the European Union. The content of this publication is the responsibility of “Tavi draugi” and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.