In a world where separating “fake news” from reliable information is getting progressively difficult and where both on and offline worlds pose new challenges on all levels of our lives, our goal is to educate and spread the importance of Media and Information Literacy. We have created the Participation Resource Pool because we want trainers, youth workers, youth leaders and educators to have access to the best and most up-to-date online tools to foster young people’s critical thinking and media literacy to increase quality of youth participation.
The name Participation Resource Pool combines within itself the core values and concepts we stand behind. Firstly, Participation, which is the backbone of any healthy democratic society. We would like to see a world where young people have decision making power about all matters that shape their lives. We also believe that making good decisions means that citizens have critical thinking skills and know how to evaluate and create content.
Secondly, the Resource Pool. While there are many global activities in the field of Youth Participation and Media and Information Literacy, we felt that a central hub for legitimate and reliable information about these topics were missing. Like a pool of ideas around which bright minds gather to share information, experiences and best practices, the Resource Pool is an ever-evolving idea exchange which is meant to be the spark that lights change.
Did you know that Youth Participation and Media and Information Literacy (MIL) skills are priority topics in the EU Youth Strategy? The strategy encourages all member states to initiate MIL and critical thinking related activities by “helping prepare young people for participation, through youth work, youth parliaments or simulations, actions around civic education and media literacy in synergy with formal education and public authorities.”
EU Youth Strategy also states that digital technologies have revolutionised young people’s lives in many ways and policies need to consider both opportunities and challenges. We need to tap the potential of social media, equip the youth with digital skills and foster critical thinking and Media Literacy. It is also clear that there are new and alternative ways of participation, which need to be taken into consideration when engaging with young people.
The overall purpose of SALTO Participation and Information Resource Centre (SALTO PI) is to develop strategic and innovative action to encourage – in accordance with the goals of the EU Youth Strategy and the Erasmus+ Programme – youth participation in democratic life.
The Think Tank on Youth Participation was established by SALTO PI in 2018. It is a network of experts, policymakers and practitioners who aim at co-creating solutions for increasing young people’s active participation in society, particularly in decision-making.
Here are members of our team who work hard to keep the Resource Pool running everyday.
SALTO-YOUTH is a network of seven Resource Centres working on European priority areas within the youth field.
As part of the European Commission’s Training Strategy, SALTO-YOUTH provides non-formal learning resources for youth workers and youth leaders and organises training and contact-making activities to support organisations and National Agencies (NAs) within the frame of the European Commission’s Erasmus+ Youth programme and beyond.
The organisations who helped fund the Resource Pool so that it never runs dry,
The people who help keep the Resource Pool full of fresh ideas.
Independent research consultant, EU council of Europe Pool of European Youth Researchers
Policy specialist & youth researcher, European Youth Card Association
Independent research consultant, EU council of Europe Pool of European Youth Researchers
Development specialist at University of Tartu, project coordinator at 4DIMENSIOON