My Virtual Existence

Project Title: My Virtual Existence

Duration: 01/05/2023 – 30/10/2024

Donor: European Commission, Erasmus plus Programme

Description: Project seeks to explore the profound influence of online experiences on young people’s mood, emotions, and worldview. By examining the ways in which digital interactions shape their daily lives, this project aims to shed light on both the positive and negative aspects of virtual existence – from the impact of social media on self-esteem to the role of online communities in fostering a sense of belonging, this youth exchange will provide a comprehensive perspective on how the digital world shapes the emotional landscapes and perspectives of today’s youth and will provide time and space for youth to talk about it, explore it and to approach it critically.

Activities

As part of this project, six volunteers from the ACT center (Bjorgi, Gentjan, Sonila, Liridona, Jona, Argli) took part in the youth exchange in Samobor, Croatia on January 9-18, 2024.
Some of the themes that have been developed in the youth exchange are: self-reflection on own behavior online, young people and social networks, fear of “mission out”, responsible and ethical online behavior, establishing and maintaining healthy limits on screen time, cybersecurity and online, safety, critical thinking and media literacy, mental health and well-being, disconnecting and taking digital breaks.
The participants also held an intercultural night where they learned more about each other’s cultures and traditions from the participating countries and received a Youthpass certificate as proof of the competences and skills acquired during this youth exchange.

Follow Up

At 12:00 on February 7, 2024, our volunteers, overseen by the ACT center, hosted a one-day workshop via Zoom as part of the Virtual Existence youth exchange developed in Samobor, Croatia. The workshop aimed to educate the audience about the project’s objectives, the topics covered during the exchange, the professional and personal benefits gained, and the overall impressions and experiences of the volunteers.