CO-EXIST Project
CO-EXIST – Citizen Journalism to Address Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue is an Erasmus+ project that brought together six partners from across Europe to empower young people as citizen journalists and intercultural dialogue facilitators. Spanning two years, the project aimed to combat disinformation, promote inclusion, and build young people's capacity to create positive change in their communities through ethical, creative media production.
As societies across Europe become more diverse, and misinformation spreads rapidly online, the CO-EXIST project responded with a set of innovative, non-formal educational tools for youth and youth workers.
Project Objectives
The CO-EXIST project focused on two key Erasmus+ priorities:
- Promoting common European values through civic engagement, digital literacy, and intercultural understanding
- Supporting inclusion and diversity, particularly in digital spaces where biases and misinformation are amplified
The initiative aimed to:
✅ Equip young people to create and share media that reflects diversity, accuracy, and mutual respect✅ Support youth workers with structured, accessible resources to guide young learners in citizen journalism✅ Encourage cross-cultural dialogue and critical thinking through digital storytelling
What Has Been Developed?
The Citizen Media Curriculum
This is a five-module training resource designed for young people aged 16+. Each module combines 5 hours of face-to-face learning with 5 hours of self-directed activities, and covers:
- Citizen Journalism 101
- Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue
- Interviewing and Writing
- Video Production and Editing
- Podcasts and Audio Interviews
Modules focus on ethical media practices, digital creativity using accessible tools, and critical thinking in content creation. Youth explore their identities, values, and communities while learning to communicate with purpose and empathy.
In-Service Training for Youth Workers
To support the implementation of the curriculum, CO-EXIST developed an In-Service Training Framework for front-line youth workers. It includes:
- Tools to help youth workers use the curriculum and facilitate WebQuests
- A lesson plan canvas to design tailored learning experiences
- Guidance on navigating digital and social media learning spaces safely and inclusively
The training is divided into 3 modules:
- Understanding Interfaith Dialogue
- Challenge-Based Learning in Youth Work
- Delivering the CO-EXIST Curriculum in Non-Formal, Digital Environments
Each module blends theory with hands-on methods to build the confidence and digital competence of educators.
The WebQuests: Citizen Journalism in Practice
A cornerstone of the CO-EXIST approach is the WebQuest Challenge Resource Pack, which has now been completed and piloted with young people across the partner countries.
The resource includes 8 WebQuests—4 introductory and 4 advanced challenges—designed to foster critical thinking, dialogue, and collaborative learning among youth. These WebQuests tackle key issues affecting intercultural and interfaith understanding:
- Social Media Responsibility Topics: Fake news, social media verification, fact-checking
- Information Disorder Topics: Satire vs. fake news, clickbait, imposter content, manipulated media
- Privilege and Diversity in the Media Topics: Media bias, underrepresentation of minorities, and imagining inclusive media narratives
- Contemporary Propaganda Topics: Memes, sponsored content, deep fakes, and faith-related disinformation
Each WebQuest guides young participants through a process of inquiry, analysis, and media creation—helping them become active contributors to a more inclusive and media-literate society.
A European Partnership for Inclusion
The project was implemented by a diverse consortium:
- The Rural Hub CLG (Ireland) – Coordinator
- Solution: Solidarité & Inclusion (France)
- Fundación Siglo22 (Spain)
- K.A.NE. – Social Youth Development (Greece)
- Forum Citoyens-Burgers (Belgium)
- Skills Elevation FHB (Germany)
Together, they shared expertise in media education, youth empowerment, digital learning, and intercultural work, ensuring a high-impact and sustainable result.
Why CO-EXIST Matters
The CO-EXIST project demonstrates how non-formal education and digital creativity can empower youth to build bridges, not walls. By engaging in dialogue, storytelling, and media production, young people across Europe have taken steps to challenge prejudice, promote inclusion, and share their truths.
As a result of the project, both young people and youth workers now have access to free, practical tools that make intercultural and interfaith learning engaging, participatory, and meaningful.
🔗 All project resources are available online:Visit the project website: https://co-exist-project.eu
Explore the tools, download the curriculum, try out the WebQuests—and help young people become agents of positive change through citizen media.
View our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/coexisterasmus
Project no.: 2022-2-IE01-KA220-YOU-000099163
