European Parliament in Bulgaria: “Check and Vote!” training

In 2024, the European Parliament entrusted us with organizing a series of 6 fact-checking seminars aimed at educating first-time voters and young voters across Bulgaria. Held in collaboration with Factcheck.bg, an established platform dedicated to fact-checking, these seminars targeted high school and first-year students in six major university cities: Blagoevgrad, Plovdiv, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo and Pleven. The seminars took place between 22 February and 30 April and were designed to educate young people about the importance of fact-checking, critical thinking and fake news, and how the EU is actively engaging with young people to empower them.

The challenge was to foster a deep understanding of the risks posed by disinformation, helping young people realize the importance of fact-checking in today’s digital world, while also showcasing the role of education in shaping responsible citizens. These seminars were designed to equip young voters with essential skills for navigating the vast flow of information in the digital age, emphasizing how fact-checking is integral not only to voting but to their overall educational and professional growth.

The workshops were held in universities and schools and included hands-on exercises that allowed students to practice fact-checking in real-time.
This initiative not only provided essential skills to young voters, but also helped to create a well-informed generation of citizens.