DIGITAL MEDIA MENTORING FOR DEMOCRACY: A HANDBOOK FOR YOUTH ORGANISATIONS

This handbook was developed within the framework of the EU in a Nutshell project undertaken by Beyond the Horizon ISSG (Belgium) and Januam (Germany). The Erasmus+ project marked the first implementation of a one-year digital media mentoring programme for young adults with a migrant background in Belgium and Germany and involved a total of 54 mentees and 20 mentors during the years 2024-25. This handbook presents the overall programme approach, the applied methodology, and the main thematic focus areas.

By providing a structured guide that outlines the programme activities and describes each session individually, this handbook offers youth organisations practical support when addressing the digital media usage of adolescents and young adults. It covers key topics such as media literacy and media ethics, disinformation, and provides in-depth insights into content creation tools and practices. Through a mentor–mentee approach, the guide offers a clear framework for hands-on activities in media-related and creative content production.

Furthermore, the handbook connects the everyday use of social media with broader themes such as democracy, civic engagement, and peer learning. In doing so, it provides youth workers with a structured method to empower young adults with the skills, critical awareness, and confidence needed to navigate digital media spaces responsibly and to actively participate in democratic and social processes.