Critical Connection: Youth Against Bullying and Misinformation

This June, Evropska Organizacija Mladih (EYO) sent a team of young people to Osijek, Croatia for "Critical Connection: Youth Against Bullying and Misinformation," an Erasmus+ youth exchange held from 7 to 15 June 2026. Our delegation joined participants from Croatia, Germany, Portugal and Türkiye, 36 young people in total, for nine days focused on critical thinking, media literacy and standing up against bullying.

The themes hit close to home. Misinformation, cyberbullying and cultural bullying are part of everyday online life for young people across our region, and they affect mental health, safety and confidence, especially for those with fewer opportunities. "Critical Connection" approached these issues not through theory but through practice.

Working with non-formal methods like forum theatre, debates, role-plays and intercultural storytelling, our participants spent the week both learning and teaching. Each person co-facilitated at least one session, so our team did not sit on the sidelines, they shaped the programme. That responsibility built real communication, facilitation and leadership skills that they are bringing back to Serbia.

The exchange also produced concrete results. EYO participants helped create the #ThinkTwiceActWise campaign on responsible online behaviour and contributed to the Critical Connection digital toolkit, a shared resource of tested methods that youth workers and schools can keep using long after the project ends.

Of course, an exchange is never only about the work. Cultural evenings brought five countries together through food, music and tradition, including the Turkish delegation's carnation and henna celebration. A visit to Osijek's historic Tvrđa quarter gave the group time to connect away from the workshop room, and the friendships built across borders are part of what our participants value most.

EYO is proud of how our team represented young people from Serbia, and we are already looking at how to turn this experience into local follow-up actions at home.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Croatian National Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.