There are parts of the world where civil society organizations are facing growing challenges, from government crackdowns to opposition threats. The struggle is real, but there’s hope. If you have ever wondered if anyone could share their best lessons learned, you're in the right place!

Let’s come together to learn on how to strengthen young people in being more resilient (online and offline) and improve their (as well as our own) wellbeing in the times of widespread disinformation, limited attention span and general information noise.

A third piece by Karol Wilczyński on disinformation around the War in Gaza. This time the author gives some tips how to take care of your own digital well-being while digesting the news.

Engaging in activism is both a rewarding and tough journey, requiring strong dedication and resilience to overcome obstacles. Beneath the passion for change lies a growing concern: the burnout.

Not all time spent online is a time well-spent (let’s be honest – more frequently it’s not even time well-wasted). While media literacy skills are crucial for understanding and structuring the great wave of information coming our way every day, doing it while maintaining a healthy relationship with technology is another matter. This is the third article in the series produced together with the Baltic Media Centre of Excellence, where we explore the psychology behind online interactions, as well as provide tips for digital well-being.

The events of the last 3 years have been a huge generator of emotions for each of us, but also an incubator for disinformation. It has taken over the media space and continues, in the presence of fear and intense emotions, to destabilize trust in factual information. Nearly two years after the invasion of Ukraine, we look at the evolution of false narratives online, and discuss how a war in the 21st century takes on some new nuances to what history has accustomed us to.

In a conflict situation, tension rises, hearts race, and blood boils. There is no need to meet in person anymore; a comment on Slack can cause the same reaction! It is impossible to stay calm in such moments; empathy is a distant memory. The art of selecting words thoughtfully and listening deeply to comprehend others' perspectives seems unattainable. Communicating effectively is crucial to resilience, and it is thus important to break down barriers that tend to prevent effective communication.

During tough times, resilience becomes more than just a buzzword; it becomes vital to survival. Through the growth mindset, we can adapt to chaos by shifting our focus from unnecessary perfection to what truly sustains us. The more energy we conserve and the more we focus on what keeps us alive - both personally and professionally - the better equipped we are to handle any situation.

In today's world of fragmentation and disconnect, it's easy to overlook the power of human connection. In spite of the chaos and noise, an undeniable truth remains: strong relationships are essential to our success as individuals and as a society. Through these connections, we find resilience in times of adversity, as well as in the face of global crises. Let's explore the profound impact of human connection on our well-being, and learn what it takes to thrive, not just survive.

Beata Zwierzyńska: Increasingly our world emerges through the lens of online reality, social media, streaming videos, image sharing by witnesses of events. How do drastic images influence? Perhaps, we are becoming more immune and indifferent to such content?

The number of activists who become burnt out as a result of their activism is growing. Individuals who suffer from burnout experience symptoms in various ways, depending on their circumstances and coping mechanisms.

How can a theatre association and a school in a small town work together effectively? How to actively involve overburdened teachers and young people with difficulties beyond school? In February 2023, the NIOK Foundation organised a workshop entitled Acting Locally in partnership with the Hive Mind community. After the training, the selected participants were able to practice what they had learnt in implementing actions with the support of NIOK. The experiences of the Tandem Theatre's Local Impact action are shared below.

It is important to find ways to cope with stress stemming from the Internet and the BASIC Ph model can help with this. The pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey are just a few of the most recent events that have been circulating online and their sheer density can easily lower our resilience to stress. Drastic images are shared in viral posts and used to produce fear-inducing disinformation. In the below article, we present the BASIC Ph model, which outlines six channels to foster your emotional wellbeing online.

This practical guide outlines an approach to restoring energy and productivity for both individuals and teams during times of crisis. It offers actionable strategies and techniques to help reignite motivation and drive performance. Let us begin with the most essential, yet underrated solution for anyone who lacks energy: rest! Rest is the most underrated remedy for stress that we have at our disposal.

Making organization resilient through emotion-conscious leadership.

Cyberpsychologist Gordon Ingram explains the social and psychological consequences of the dynamics promoted by the Internet and social networks.

This space will teach you to recognize the characteristics of the threats and attacks called social engineering so that you can have information on how to avoid them.

It’s been a difficult 2 years. And on February 24th, 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine it got even harder... It’s a challenging time which is testing us as activists, but also, more importantly, as people. We’re doing the best we can, but living in a constant state of unknown, having to prepare for the unexpected or currently focusing a lot of energy and resources on supporting our Ukrainian friends, who are in a much more difficult situation, takes its toll.