about the project
The skill of dealing with media is important to every citizen of a democracy.
Recently, events in the Ukraine have appeared on the news numerous times. They are an important issue that Europe, in its entirety, needs to discuss. The freedom of the press has been limited and at the same time nationalism has become more popular – a challenge the European Union also has to face.
Media plays an important role in this context because it strongly influences the formation of the opinion of society and politics. “Twitter-Revolution”, cyber-war, fake news or “lying press” (reproach of the German Pegida-Movement) – are some of many examples to prove that media plays an important role in shaping democracy while also posing a challenge to it.
In August 2017, twenty young adults from the Ukraine and Germany will discuss the way media influences us in a youth-meeting entitled “Meeting Media: Chances and Risks – a Ukrainian-German Experience”. Half of the participants come will come from Ukraine and half will come from Germany. Every German participant will have a Ukrainian “partner”. First, they will meet up in a Hostel Lviv and after three days they will go to Kyiv, where they will stay in the homes of their Ukrainian partners.
The group will work on various contents and will organize many of the activities themselves. The meeting aims to stimulate social, intercultural and methodical competences as well as the competence of dealing with media. The participants will also expand their knowledge on the topics discussed.
The following contents will be discussed in various formats (such as excursions, workshops, group-works, lectures, discussions and guided tours in cities and museums):
a) History/Politics: new history of Ukraine and German, Comparison of the political systems
b) Media: Overview of the various media landscapes, critical dealing with media, use of media, way of working of media, influence of media (especially media in times of war, propaganda), freedom of media and opinion.
Even almost thirty years after the fall of the “Iron Curtain”, Eastern Europe is often considered something “strange” and far away.
Pursuing the main aims of - strengthening democracy and civil society, connecting people from different cultures and supporting critical thinking – this project wants to contribute its part to a unified Europe and be an answer to the challenges of our time.