Welcome to the page of the project “Solidarity Dialogues: Youth Against Propaganda and Disinformation”, which unites the voices of active youth from Ukraine, Hungary and Italy. Join us to make change together. Your voice is important!
WHAT IS THIS PROJECT?
This initiative aims to strengthen the voice of Ukrainian youth abroad to better understand what is happening in Ukraine, as well as to counter Russian disinformation and propaganda and to support connections between Ukrainian youth and youth in Hungary and Italy.
Within the project, we are conducting online dialogues with young people from Ukraine, Hungary and Italy. During the dialogue sessions, boys and girls from the three countries are able to share their experiences and stories, make new acquaintances, and contribute to countering propaganda and disinformation in their countries. We invite the most active participants to networking sessions to create ideas for international initiatives that will contribute to positive changes in their communities.
HOW DO THE MEETINGS TAKE PLACE?
At dialogue sessions with 20 to 30 participants, we create a safe platform for young people to communicate — to share information and experiences, to discuss topics they choose. Our facilitators set the general framework of the meeting, maintain a comfortable atmosphere and equal participation for everyone. Knowledge of English is not required to participate — we provide simultaneous translation.
Such sessions allow Ukrainian youth to be heard on the international stage, to convey their position on the reasons of the war against Ukraine and the importance of our victory for the entire democratic world.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
We invite Ukrainian youth aged 15 to 35 to join us. We especially encourage young people who, for certain reasons, have fewer opportunities to be socially active (disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, consequences of military actions, etc.). To ensure that all voices are heard, we are giving preference to such participants when forming groups.
If you need additional support to participate in the meetings, please let us know by email at dialogues@yac.org.ua (please contact us no later than 5 days before the session).
WHAT DO YOUNG PEOPLE TALK ABOUT?
Each session consists of sincere stories of Ukrainian youth about life in wartime, the events of February 24, evacuation and even occupation. Foreigners often admit that even though they follow the news in Ukraine, the stories they hear at the sessions shock them and make them rethink the fact that the war in Europe is happening right now. Young people from Italy and Hungary express their sympathy and support for Ukrainians, asking how they can help our country today.
The perception of Russians who have fled to Europe is also constantly discussed: our young people explain that running away from Russia’s problems abroad does not lift off their responsibility for the outbreak of war. Both Italians and Hungarians recognize the spread of anti-Ukrainian propaganda in their media and social networks. They ask for reliable English-language sources about events in Ukraine and promise to combat disinformation in their environment.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
Dates of upcoming meetings:
- with Hungary: August 31, September 5, September 12, September 19;
- with Italy: August 29, September 7, September 14, September 28.
Time of all meetings: from 5 pm to 7 pm (CET time).
We will send confirmed participants a link to Zoom and all the details a few days before the dialogue session.
AND WHAT’S NEXT?
After each meeting, our participants exchange contacts and join the project’s private Facebook group to continue communication. In order to develop youth cooperation and further strengthen Ukraine’s voice abroad, we invite the most active participants to a networking session.
The main goal of the networking session is to develop inspiring youth projects. Together with young people from Ukraine, Hungary and Italy, you will brainstorm, plan and implement international initiatives aimed at combating propaganda and disinformation in our countries. After the networking, you will receive consulting support from the project on further planning and scaling of your joint initiatives. We will provide you with the necessary tools, knowledge and motivation to implement the initiatives generated during the project.
Still have questions about participating in the project? Email us at dialogues@yac.org.ua
UNITY (Mriemo ta diemo) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IREX in partnership with Building Ukraine Together (BUR), Center for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR Ukraine), Making Cents International (MCI), International Republican Institute (IRI), and Zinc Network.