“Dispatch from the Digital Frontier”

IT Rome 7-15/11/2024 Y.E. 10+2, “Digital Literacy and Digital Content”

UNESCO club of Serres & ASSOCIAZIONE PRO ART LAB Organisation in ERASMUS+ Youth Exchange project

This program “Dispatch from the Digital Frontier” founded by the EU in the
frame of ERASMUS+, aims to help people build the skills needed to navigate the
online world confidently, effectively and responsibly. The program combines
interactive workshops and content creation in order to foster digital competency in various ages
This project offers opportunities to young people to reconsider how they
use their digital tools and social media, to understand better importance of
digital literacy, online security, balance of usage, good online presence, explore
AI Act and at the end enhance digital citizenship competences by creating online
awareness campaign using digital tools for active civic engagement through social media.
Reports of the participants

My name is Ioannis Barous and I participated in the program “Dispatch from the Digital Frontier” that took place in room during 7-15 of November of 2024. I really enjoyed the topic of the program since I, myself, have studied Computer Science and its relevant to my interests. The activities of the program aimed to push out of our comfort zone to tackle digital problems such as solutions to cyberthreats, the misuse of AI but also the addiction to our digital devices. All of the activities were really interactive and engaging, they managed to keep everyone interested. Not only that, but they managed to connect everyone from all the groups, since we were encouraged to make teams consisting of participants from every country. My favorite activity was by far the digital detox one. We were asked to get rid of our devices from us for a few hours. In these few hours we really got to enjoy the communication and compassion of each other, to engage in deep conversations but also appreciate nature. The facility was a camp so we were surround by a lot of green, which I also really preferred compared to other programs I’ve been to. In our time in Rome, we also to manage to learn some Italian from other participants, try the traditional pasta and pizza and sightsee the beautiful city. All of us had a wonderful time!

Giannis Mparous

I had the chance to participate in an Erasmus+ project called “Dispatch from the Digital Frontier.” The project focused on digital literacy and the responsible use of technology among young people. Participants came from Italy, Greece, Romania, and the Czech Republic. Through this project, we learned how to critically analyze and understand how technology operates and affects our lives. 

Moreover, we raised awareness about online security, balanced technology usage, and creating a positive online presence. We also discussed AI, including its benefits and disadvantages, and how we, as youth, should use it carefully. This project focused on helping young people build important digital skills and use technology in positive ways. It encouraged us to use social media and digital tools for activism, creating a good online presence, and sharing our unique ideas with the world. It also taught us about online threats, staying safe, and the serious effects of cyberbullying. At the same time, it promoted respect for diversity and showed how technology can fight social injustice. Participants also improved their social and language skills and felt more connected to the European community while learning in fun and creative ways outside of school.”

Veronika Kouskou

A youth exchange, full of experiences, knowledge and pleasant memories. On the topic of digital literacy and digital content… interesting and timely as we encounter various such issues in our everyday lives.

We came together with young people from other countries, there were participants from Italy, the Czech Republic, Romania and Greece. We got to know the cultures of other countries; we learned things about each country and each person and we created friendships by spending a lot of time playing and discussing.

As for the program, we worked on issues about digital content, the importance of critical thinking on the Internet and its safe use. We talked about the types of cyberbullying and security. For all these sections, we dealt with interactive and imaginative ways of studying, commenting and presenting. We made videos to comment on various topics, organized presentations and designed posters. A means of combining non-formal education, contributing to bringing participants closer together due to the groups that were created.

Beyond the program, it was an opportunity to discover Rome, get to know its culture and visit some important sights.

In summary, this experience I had helped me improve as it strengthened my knowledge regarding the digital sector that was the subject.

It also contributed to making new international friends, discovering new things and developing my soft skills, for example team spirit, communication, creativity, self-confidence, etc.

An opportunity that is the “obligation” of every young person to take advantage of in order to broaden their horizons.

Konstantinos Boukonis

As a participant in this project, i felt amazing meeting new people. Furthermore, my confidence and the ability to talk in a small group of people were improved. The activities we did helped me to associate with people around the world. Also, the activities made me a person who will pay more attention to the others’ opinions and understanding others values better. Additionally, I had many interactions and shared ideas with the group which helped me to expand my horizons. I liked debating about social solutions and problems with my fellow participants. Lastly my English improved and became much better. All in all, this was a experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Κωνσταντίνος Χλωρός

The experience of taking part in the digital literacy Erasmus Plus program was memorable and enriching. In addition to broadening my knowledge of the digital world, the program gave me the chance to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds, each of whom contributed their own distinct viewpoints and life experiences on the cyberspace. Working cooperatively with others was one of the most useful skills I acquired during the program. We investigated our relationships with the digital cyberspace and shared our personal experiences through a variety of activities and conversations. We found fascinating variations in our technological interactions as well as shared interests by exchanging social media preferences. These discussions opened my eyes and brought to light how differentdigital behaviors are in different cultures. This collaborative learning experience was my favorite aspect of the curriculum. It was about more than just learning; it was about expanding my horizons and forming relationships. Theevent was genuinely unique because of the spirit of friendship and encouragement among participants. I have no doubt that the abilities and knowledge I acquired will impact my future approach to digital technologies and teamwork. I am appreciative of this chance to advance both professionally and personally.

Baggelis Zaparas

Participating in the Erasmus Plus digital literacy program was a unique experience that transformed how I navigate cyberspace. I learned essential skills like practicing digital etiquette, ensuring respectful communication, and balancing the opportunities and risks of online spaces. 

Collaborative discussions with people from different backrounds highlighted how digital tools can foster global connections while also posing risks like misinformation and privacy threats. I gained practical strategies to handle these challenges and make better use of online platforms. This experience inspired me to think critically about my digital habits and appreciate the power of cyberspace in bringing people together.

Equipped with these insights, I feel more confident and prepared to embrace the digital world responsibly. I am grateful for the personal and professional growth this program has provided.

Eliza Perdetzi

I will never forget these eight days in Rome, Italy. I’m incredibly thankful that I had the opportunity to meet and spend these wonderful days with all of these people. I learned a lot about the culture of Italy but i learned more about culture of the countries of the participants.

The facilitator put a lot of effort into making us feel comfortable and welcome, and the project was well planned.

Dolapsis Panos

As a participant in this project, I felt amazing about meeting so many new people. I loved getting acquainted with the Czechs, the Romanians, and my fellow Greeks. Also, my confidence and ability to
speak in front of a small group of people were substantially improved. All in all, this was an experience that contributed in the development of my character.

Απόστολος Χλωρός

With these types of programs, you are given the opportunity to get to know yourself, new
cultures and countries, as well as to learn about the subject matter of each program, in this
particular case the participants of the specific program dealt with digital literacy.

In the first days of the program, however, we got close to the people we were going to work with in
the following days. 

So, the first hours of getting to know each other were filled with games trying to break the ice and get to know each other.

Nevertheless, in the following days, having already come together through cooperation, we managed to complete all the activities that we had to go through in order to understand the content of digital literacy.

Having our activities based on the method of informal learning, we came into contact more deeply with the meaning of digital literacy and other human skills needed to work smoothly with the people around us.

Finally, having spent all these days together as a company, we managed not only to acquire important knowledge but also to build strong human bonds between us.

Ελενη Καβακλιωτη

Digital literacy was the theme and the main focus of our Erasmus+ project. Over seven days, we aimed to understand and explore digital literacy and digital content from our own perspectives. Erasmus+ projects enable participants to acquire knowledge through informal learning methods.

The activities and overall experiential learning approach formed the foundation of our daily routine,
allowing us to engage deeply with digital literacy and content.

Frequent activities pushed us beyond our comfort zones and provoked meaningful dialogue between groups. These experiences brought us closer together while teaching us to respect and appreciate
each other’s opinions.

Through discussions and dialogue, we grew and matured as a team.

The daily schedule in programs like this can initially feel overwhelming.

However, the effective organization, combined with the friendly atmosphere created by the participants, encouraged active involvement. This engagement not only fostered interaction with the program’s theme but also helped us connect with the cultures of others around us.

Participating in such activities was a wonderful way to get to know people and their cultures better.
Erasmus+ offers an excellent opportunity to educate yourself while forming lifelong friendships with
individuals who inspire and motivate you to be more productive.

Giorgos Katsaros

The project was a really good opportunity to learn about digital content and digital literacy with
interactive workshops. Some of the activities were cyberbullying, digital overwhelm, digital security,
and social media usage.

For me, the most interesting part was talking and sharing ideas about AI act.

It was really interesting talking and interacting with other young people and hearing about different
perspectives.

Lastly, I really liked the cultural exchange between the participating countries, which made the
experience very unique.

Σοφια Σαλονικιδου

My Erasmus experience in Rome, Italy, was very transformative, as I met and spent time with inspirational people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, for days that I will never forget. I was able to gain a deeper knowledge of various viewpoints by taking part in workshops, group discussions, and cultural exchange events. These conversations helped me improve my communication skills while also instilling a spirit of mutual respect and teamwork among the participants.

The program’s main goal was to improve digital literacy, which is relevant and empowering in the
modern world. We investigated numerous digital tools, learnt about online safety, and built skills for
effectively navigating the digital realm. My understanding of technology has grown as a result of the
activities, which have also taught me how to interact and innovate using digital platforms. The
facilitator made the activities exciting and accessible, allowing everyone to participate and learn. This program was a crucial learning experience for me because of its distinctive emphasis on digital literacy, which gave me useful skills that I can use in both my personal and professional life.

Γιώργος Κουλακίδης

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.