The main activities in our youth center Klub na Peknej in Bratislava, included workshops on developing communication skills and critical thinking. The meetings covered the topic of digital security, recognizing disinformation, hateful comments, and effective ways of reacting in conflict situations. We also produced short videos on these issues. To make sure we also reach broader peer groups, we distributed the videos online to our partner schools and parents of children in our youth center, which increased the effectiveness of the project.
Who we worked with and why
The target group of the project were the usual stakeholders of OZ Mládež ulice: children and young people aged 10 to 20, who were subject to distorted reception of information from social networks and were not sufficiently guided or familiar with possible manipulations and risks. We focused on the need to educate young people about potential frauds (in an informal and entertaining way) and to support their critical thinking, which was necessary for them to evaluate information. At the same time, it was essential to develop their ability to protect themselves against disinformation and hate speech.
Given that the knowledge of young people on this topic primarily depended on their school and family environment, a secondary target group was their parents, grandparents, and legal guardians. The content of the activities served to educate them in distinguishing between misinformation, hoaxes, and misleading advertisements.
We implemented the following three workshops:
Learn to create videos for social networks (led by Logiscool Slovakia )
How to respond to harassment on social media (led by Cyber4Kids )
Hoaxes and Misinformation (led by Cyber4Kids )
Photo: Klub na Peknej's associate and psychologist Kristína Anyalaiová, by: OZ Mládež ulice
Read the Interview with Ivana Karšaiová (coordinator of Klub na Peknej) by Ľubica Stanek (PDCS)
The low-threshold center Klub na Peknej is located in Rača, a residential district of Bratislava. It is managed by the civic association Mládež ulice (Youth of the Street). I met Ivana Karšaiová, the club's coordinator, before lunch—the center was still closed to the public. A young smiling woman opened the door for me. Ivana works as the coordinator of Klub na Peknej. She is a psychologist, and besides her role as a coordinator, she also provides professional psychological counseling to the youth at the club. The simple but cozily furnished club surprised me with its good facilities. The large clubroom is separated from the staff area, and in the back, there is also a creative workshop with a ceramic kiln, where Ivana and I sat down.
How does a young psychologist come to work at a low-threshold center?
After finishing school, I faced a big question: what should I do? I had worked with seniors and young people and had various volunteering experiences, but this felt like the perfect fit. I discovered that creating a space for young people where they want to spend time was fulfilling for me. I remember from my own youth how I had nowhere to go—cafes and restaurants charged for everything. If we didn’t want to stay at home, we didn’t have many options. I saw that the low-threshold approach we offer works. When we invite young people from the street, they come. They want to be here. And that gave me purpose.
Today, my work focuses on mindfulness courses for children and youth. I guide them through various techniques that teach them grounding, slowing down, and managing their emotions. We also have many discussions about everyday situations and values. We aim to instill respect, self-love, and empathy in them, supporting their personal development. I feel like I grow alongside them. I also offer psychological counseling. Some request it themselves; others come regularly. They call it “Can we go to the meeting room” or “the quiet room.” It’s a space where they can be alone with their thoughts—and with me—to talk.
Photo: Social worker Romana Srnčíková and coordinator of the Klub na Peknej psychologist Ivana Karšaiová, by: Ľubica Stanek
Why did you decide to join the Digital Activism Program?
I’m always looking for ways to help the youth at our club grow. We monitor the topics they bring up—sometimes they request them, other times I see what they need to address. This was a mix of both—we noticed their interest and recognized the dangers of the online world. We thought it would be good to create a structure around the topics they bring up. Then we got the chance to apply for a small grant, which fit perfectly, so we went for it.
The entire world of young people is shifting into the digital space. Whether it’s relationships or life challenges, many issues they face often originate online. A lot is changing. We deal with things like how to use emojis correctly, what certain smileys mean, and the credibility of information. For instance, we once discussed a “world-ending” message circulating in class group chats. The youth were scared and wanted to know if it was true.
I see it as essential to teach young people to manage the online world so it doesn’t completely consume them. But we also need to understand that for them, the digital world is reality. That’s why it’s important to teach them critical thinking and help them gain some distance from what they see online.
What are young people like, and what topics do they bring to the club? How do young people in Bratislava live?
Sometimes young people remind me of “little pandas”—they can be very smart, sensitive, and sweet. But they freeze when they’re in danger, like pandas climbing a tree and staying there even if it’s on fire. Young people have a lot of empathy and compassion, but don’t always know how to navigate certain situations. That’s where I see our opportunity—to show them the way forward.
A common theme they bring to the club is social isolation and loneliness. Many feel misunderstood, like outsiders. This has always existed, but it feels much more intense today. Our clients have numerous group chats, but often don’t even know who’s in them. For example, someone in the chat might send offensive messages, but they don’t even know who it is—it’s just an anonymous nickname.
Another topic we observe is anger management. Young people live under a constant flood of information, trying to figure out their identity and where they belong. They don’t seem to know how to deal with it. Often, it turns into anger. Nobody teaches them how to calm down or handle that anger, so it spills over into strong emotions. But behind anger, there’s always something—loneliness, frustration, fear. When it comes out as an outburst, they’re sent out of the classroom, and even their parents often don’t know how to handle it.
Despite having many social contacts, young people feel isolated. Many think they’ll become influencers, so they don’t need good grades or future plans. They see successful people online, compare themselves to them, and end up demotivated, feeling it’s easier to do nothing than risk failure.
What new insights did you gain from the Digital Activism Program?
We created a series of 10 Instagram videos on topics chosen with our clients. The process was more challenging than expected because the youth often lost interest quickly due to the length and complexity of the work—from scripting to editing. Through the project, they experienced how much effort it takes to make online videos or be an influencer, and they realized this work isn’t easy (laughs).
Filming the videos was very educational. While preparing the content, we often found that everyone understood the topics differently. The collaboration forced us to capture the topics in a way that considered various perspectives while making them as understandable as possible. This process showed us that even we, the club staff, lack certain knowledge, which motivated us to pursue further education.
We found that terms like disinformation and personal data protection are often abstract for young people. They know the words, understand they’re important, but don’t know how to apply them. That’s why we approached these topics practically—through online games, for instance. We discussed information sources, like TikTok, and how to verify news.
We also addressed security—young people know passwords should be unique, but they often don’t know how to create them. Artificial intelligence (AI) is another big topic. On one hand, they fear being replaced by it; on the other, they use it extensively—for example, to chat with virtual characters. Interestingly, they trust AI chatbots while also expressing fear about AI and its trustworthiness.
What feedback did your campaign (video series) receive?
We sent the articles and videos to parents in our database and to partnering schools. Parents gave us feedback that they learned a lot about these topics. Young people were motivated to engage more with these issues. They even started joking about it in the club: “I know where this is going—I know I need a secure password…”
Thanks to the grant, we’re better prepared to meet the needs of young people and now have materials we can use further.
What were the most valuable lessons and experiences from this year-long program?
For us, it was crucial to understand how young people perceive the digital world and see the contradictions in their views. We also realized how demanding it is to produce content for social media. Some found it easier, others harder, but we all recognized that this area requires more training and practice.
However, it also raised new questions, like how to do social work in the online space. In Slovakia, this field is still undeveloped. For years, we’ve said this work needs to be done, and we see some inspiration abroad. But we still lack standards and partners to help develop this area.
Interviewer: Ľubica Stanek (PDCS)
Background photo: Preparation of a series of videos on the topic of disinformation, by: OZ Mládež ulice