From Scroll to Action: My Week at the Rural Youth Europe Spring Seminar in Budapest

Written by: Ruth Morrow ( Lisnamurrican YFC)

"From Sunday 8th to Sunday 15th March, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Budapest alongside Kirsten Davis from Lylehill YFC, to take part in the Rural Youth Europe Spring Seminar, “From Scroll to Action: Media Literacy for Rural Youth Empowerment.” It was an inspiring and eye-opening week, filled with learning, discussion, and meeting young people from across Europe.

We arrived in Budapest on Sunday and settled in, excited for the week ahead. It didn’t take long before we started meeting other participants, and there was a real sense of excitement as everyone got to know each other.

The seminar officially kicked off with an introduction to the study session, where we learned about the aims for the week. We shared our fears and expectations, which helped create a really open and supportive environment. In the afternoon, we took part in team-building activities and had our first session on media literacy. The day ended with reflection groups and an international buffet, which was a great way to experience different cultures.

Tuesday focused on how media affects young people, especially in rural areas. We explored how to tell the difference between fact and fiction and discussed how media influences our opinions. In the afternoon, we looked at the connection between media, information, and democracy, as well as how our online habits, like scrolling, can shape our decisions. We finished the day with reflection groups and a social programme including some karaoke and dancing!

On Wednesday, we learned about data and algorithms and how they control what we see online. One of the most interesting sessions focused on fake news, deepfakes, and online reality, which really highlighted how important it is to think critically about the content we consume. We also had a free afternoon, which gave us the chance to explore Budapest and take in the experience.

Thursday was all about using what we had learned. We explored how to use our voices and media skills to create positive change, including working on a rural youth podcast and challenging stereotypes. We also started thinking about how we can bring these ideas back to our own communities and make a real impact.

On the final day, we worked on developing recommendations and presented our ideas. It was great to see everything come together after a week of learning. We reflected on our experiences, completed an evaluation, and celebrated with a closing party.

As the week came to an end, we said goodbye to new friends and reflected on everything we had learned. It was an unforgettable experience, and I’m so grateful to have been part of it.

This seminar has given me a much better understanding of media literacy and the role it plays in empowering young people, especially in rural communities. I’m coming home feeling inspired, more confident, and excited to put what I’ve learned into practice.

It really showed me that we can all move from scroll to action and use media as a tool for positive change".

Check out the gallery below for some pictures from our time away!